POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE THEORIES

Development of Political and Administrative Theories

Development of Political and Administrative Theories

The main ideas

Social Developments

The economic theories developed by Adam Smith (1723-1790) and Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) provided rational explanations for social developments in the Industrial Revolution. Like the philosophs of the Enlightenment, both Smith and Malthus used reason to postulate abstract theories on aspects of society such as economics and population. By examining the emerging factory system, Smith postulated two primary economic theories, the division of labor and the principle of laissez faire (free enterprise).

Both of which were based on the capitalist principle. (Gilbert, 2007) He believed that capitalists, without the interference of government, could be most productive by dividing the production process into many discrete steps. If such measures were implemented, society would naturally progress favorably as more goods were readily available to the public. On the other hand, Malthus reasoned that society was doomed to destruction because over population would deplete a limited food supply. He argued, "Population growth was the true reason for the poverty of the poor." (Sources of the Western Tradition, p. 132) While preventive measures could be instituted, these "difficulties" would halt progress. (Gilbert, 2007)

Social progress

During the Enlightenment, the notion of social progress was first defined and applied by the philosophs. Progress was the use of rational reason to achieve freedom and liberty. This view was expressed to varying degrees in the works of Thomas Jefferson, Locke, Rousseau, and Kant. Of these social philosophers perhaps Kant (1724-1804) summarizes the premise of the Enlightenment most concisely as "man's leaving his self-cased immaturity." (Sources of Western Tradition, p. 55) To Kant, immaturity was "the incapacity to use one's intelligence without the guidance of another." (Gilbert, 2007) Consequently, the only requirement for promoting progress is the active use of the intellect in "all public matters." (Sources of the Western Tradition, p. 55) Kant's interpretation was shared in varying forms by the other great minds of the Enlightenment; however Adam Smith applied a different emphasis based on his economic theory.

For Adam Smith, the Industrial Revolution was a definite mark of social progress. While the Enlightenment featured progress in rational thought, for Smith, the Industrial Revolution signified the application of reason to the political economy of the state. By mechanizing the steps in a production process, factory owners were improving efficiency and enabling more goods to be produced. This higher production, in turn would raise the standard of living by providing greater access of these goods to the population. Yet, Smith neglects the reality of the worker's condition in the factory. While efficiency is improved through the division of labor. (Gilbert, 2007)

Future of world economies

During the late 1700s, Adam Smith and Thomas Malthus each entered their predictions on the future of the world's economies into the history books. In his writings in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Smith theorized that national economies could be continuously improved by means of the division of labor, efficient production of goods, and international ...