The Reaction Against Individualism and the Remote Origins of Corporatism

Abstract

Corporatism is an anti-capitalist ideology with wide-ranging ramifications. Its origin can be traced as a reaction to the flood of changes that swept through Europe and the New World during the 16th century. Corporatism developed both as a political as well as economic doctrine. Though its origin is associated with the Counter Reformation, its reach extends far beyond the theological or religious convictions of that time. Although Max Weber associated the spirit of capitalism with the Protestant ethic, we believe this is inaccurate; capitalism existed before the Protestant Reformation and developed in Italy and Spain among other nations. The capitalist revolution was halted in some places and replaced by corporatism. A strong anti-capitalist ideology originated in the Council of Trent and during the Counter Reformation, and it resulted in deleterious consequences of populism and economic stagnation to the present day.

Keywords: corporatism, Counter Reformation, Protestant Reformation, Luther, Pico, Machiavelli, Weber, capitalism