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The Odyssey of the Regulatory State

From a “Thin” Monomorphic Concept to a “Thick” and Polymorphic Concept

Bibliographic Data

ID6089986
AuthorsD Levi-Faur (0000-0001-6998-5483, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, corresponding author), David Levi‐faur
Year2013
Volume35
Issue1-2
Pages29-50
Publication date2013-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLaw & Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-8240 • E-ISSN: 1467-9930
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/lapo.12000
OpenAlexW1872675720
LanguageEN
Citations received69
References cited63

This article assesses the “odyssey” of the regulatory state from a mereAmerican thin and monomorphic concept to a global, thick and polymorphic concept that captures some of the more important features of the capitalist–democratic state. The burgeoning literature on the regulatory state presents a confusing number of images and characterizations that are increasingly conflicting, and it too often presents a monomorphic conception of the regulatory state. The article suggests that we need to define the regulatory state rather than merely characterizing it. And we need to do so in a manner that will allow us to move beyond the specific institutional features of a certain era, nation, region, or sector. Rather than contrasting regulation with distribution and redistribution, and contrasting the regulatory state with other forms of state, I treat the regulatory state as one morph of the polymorphic capitalist state, a morph that may help constitute other morphs (such as the welfare state and the developmental state) instead of replacing them. This in turn may help remove the artificial walls between the regulatory scholarly community and other social scientists, and promote more fruitful social science

Democracy · Law and economics · Political science · Politics · Redistribution (election · Regulatory state · Sociology · State (computer science · Computer Science · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Law · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Regulation and Compliance Studies

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Unique citing works69
Citations per year5,75
Citation span2014 - 2026 (13)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 68
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