Can economic growth be used as a tool for political legitimacy?

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Developmentalism suggests that a nation's right to lead isn't derived from its laws, but from its balance sheet. By prioritizing rapid industrialization and internal markets over social consensus, regimes can secure public support through prosperity—transforming economic success into the ultimate source of political authority.

Emerging in the aftermath of World War II, developmentalism became a dominant ideology for nations seeking to escape colonial status. It posits that less developed economies should foster strong internal markets and impose high tariffs on imports to achieve autonomy. Central to this theory is the belief that economic progress provides 'de facto' and 'de jure' legitimacy; if a government can successfully improve citizens' welfare through growth, it earns the right to lead, even without a unanimous social consensus.

The theory operates on several key mechanisms. First, governments are tasked with spreading the risks of capitalist development while aligning state goals with entrepreneurial interests. Second, it advocates for a separation between state bureaucrats and politicians, allowing administrative structures to remain stable and internationalist while the political leadership remains autonomous. Finally, it views the global capitalist system as a tool: nations must actively participate in international trade to secure resources that allow them to eventually exploit the system for their own national gain.

The 'Golden Age' of developmentalism lasted from 1945 to the late 1960s, notably benefiting countries like Argentina and Uruguay. During this time, Argentina boasted South America's largest middle class, while Uruguay achieved a 95% literacy rate. However, the school declined in the 1970s due to its rigid, ethnocentric reliance on Western models as the only path to modernity. Critics argued it ignored the cultural diversity of the Global South and failed to prevent many developing nations from turning toward authoritarian regimes.

Today, developmentalism has seen a partial revival within developed nations. Following the 2008–2012 Great Recession, some 'unorthodox' policymakers in the United States and Europe have adopted its tenets. Instead of focusing on the Global South, this modern iteration applies developmentalist logic to domestic regions—like Pennsylvania or Northern England—treating them as under-developed jurisdictions requiring protection and stimulation.

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