A Comparative Political Economy of Industrial Capitalism

Abstract

This article draws from field research conducted from 1993 to 2003 examining the impact of political regimes and economic globalization on the development of salmon aquaculture in Norway, Chile and Ireland. Norway underwent salmon aquaculture industrialization under the auspices of social democracy, whereas Chile and Ireland did so through the influence of neoliberalism. Social democracy imposes limits on the economic and geographical concentration of capital, whereas neo-liberalism facilitates the economic and geographical concentration of capital. This is because social democracy uses salmon aquaculture to foster the redistribution of benefits, whereas neo-liberalism uses salmon aquaculture to foster economic growth. Nevertheless, some evidence shows the strength of regional development interests in containing the full brunt of neo-liberalism in rural Ireland. The article concludes with suggestions for deepening the comparative political economy discussion of rural capitalism.