A Study of the Alternative to Neoliberalism in the Theory of Development and Transition : Rehabilitation of Publicness

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The doctrine of the IMF and World Bank is widely known as the Washington Consensus, which is based on neoclassical economics. Neoclassical prescriptions applied indiscriminately throughout the world often damage long-term productivity and the stability of society in each subject country. In recent years, Japanese aid circles have criticized the Washington Consensus and assumed "Japanesque Developmentalism" to be an alternative to it. However, the mainstream view expressed in Japanese development study literature is controversial in the sense that this approach presuppose that only an authoritarian state can identify the national interest and lead a process of development or transition to the market.Neoliberalism presupposes the ideal market, and Japanesque Developmentalism presupposes the ideal state. Such fundamentalistic views might cause destructive influences in the real world. To be required is not a splendid fundamentalism, but the organization of human intelligence in order to induce real changes.This study searches alternative theories and policies in pioneers of development economics, especially, A.0. Hirschman. His methodology, "possibilism", is free from "fetisization of prerequisites" or consolidated planning. When he considers social change or development, Hirschman make use of effective concepts, such as "exit-voice", "latitude-discipline", etc., and pay attention to the process of social learning. Possibilism may consequently throw new light on the public sphere and civil society that have been abandoned by neoliberalism and developmentalism.