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Max Weber and Ordoliberalism: How Weber’s Kulturkritik Contributed to the Foundation of Ordoliberal Socio-Economic Thought

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Oakes, I. Max Weber and Ordoliberalism: How Weber’s Kulturkritik Contributed to the Foundation of Ordoliberal Socio-Economic Thought. Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, 140(2), 177-204. https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.140.2.177
Oakes, Isabel "Max Weber and Ordoliberalism: How Weber’s Kulturkritik Contributed to the Foundation of Ordoliberal Socio-Economic Thought" Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch 140.2, 2020, 177-204. https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.140.2.177
Oakes, Isabel (2020): Max Weber and Ordoliberalism: How Weber’s Kulturkritik Contributed to the Foundation of Ordoliberal Socio-Economic Thought, in: Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, vol. 140, iss. 2, 177-204, [online] https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.140.2.177

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Max Weber and Ordoliberalism: How Weber’s Kulturkritik Contributed to the Foundation of Ordoliberal Socio-Economic Thought

Oakes, Isabel

Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Vol. 140 (2020), Iss. 2 : pp. 177–204

1 Citations (CrossRef)

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Isabel Oakes, Faculty of History, University of Oxford, 41 – 47 George St, Oxford OX1 2BE, United Kingdom.

Cited By

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    Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Vol. 141 (2021), Iss. 3 P.149

    https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.141.3.149 [Citations: 1]

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Abstract

This study aims to uncover Max Weber as a direct and indirect influence on Alexander Rüstow and Wilhelm Röpke and the emergence of ordoliberal socio-economic thought in the 1930s and 40s. Weber contributed to the German Kulturkritik of the early 20th century that shaped the academic and socio-political climate in which the ordoliberals formed their own ideas. Weber also identified key societal issues to which the ordoliberals found concrete solutions, specifically their “Third Way” between laissez-faire capitalism and central planning as well as Vitalpolitik. This study finds that despite Weber’s relative neglect in epistemological studies of economics, his insights were incorporated into ordoliberal thought and beyond.