Politics and the theory of spontaneous order

What is it about?

The theory of spontaneous order conceptualizes and explains a number of institutional and social phenomena that are not an intended effect of either individual decisions or a collective consensus but an unplanned outcome of interactions between people pursuing their own aims. Drawing on these insights, this book demonstrates the utility of the theory of spontaneous order in explaining many phenomena in political economy and political science. The book opens with a discussion of the history and development of the theory of spontaneous order, particularly in economics and the Austrian School. The epistemological premises of the theory are then explored including the formulation of the central idea of social individualism. Demonstrating the potential applications of the theory of spontaneous order to politics, core ideas are examined including democracy, fragile states and the concept of the veil of ignorance. Finally, the limitations and constraints of the theory of spontaneous order are also reviewed and discussed.

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Photo by Kajetan Sumila on Unsplash

Photo by Kajetan Sumila on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Conception on spontaneous order, while used in economics, is not widely recognized in social sciences in general and political science in particular. This book addresses this situation and demonstrates the utility of the theory of spontaneous order in explaining political phenomena. It marks a valuable contribution to the literature on political economy, political science, public choice and political philosophy.