In the area of economic policy, these self-proclaimed socialists embrace, not socialism, but what is called “dirigisme,” which Merriam-Webster defines as a system that embraces “economic planning and control by the state.”
Dirigisme or dirigism (from French diriger, meaning ‘to direct’) is an economic system where the state exerts a strong directive influence over investment. It designates a capitalist economy in which the state plays a strong directive role, as opposed to a merely regulatory one.
they sounded more like fascists to me.
ah hah.... thought so.
Dirigisme is considered to have been “an inherent aspect” of the fascist economies of post-WWI Italy, Spain, and Germany. These economies, according to Wikipedia, were “based on private individuals being allowed property and private initiative, but these were contingent upon service to the state.”
A 2016 article in The Atlantic titled “Sanders is Not a Socialist and America isn’t Capitalist” made much the same point, though not using the term dirigisme. Its author, Marian Tupy, states: “Sanders is not a typical socialist. Sure, he believes in a highly regulated and heavily taxed private enterprise, but he does not seem to want the state to own banks and make cars.” He describes Sanders as being in favor of what the author calls a “social democracy,” which fits squarely within the broader concept of dirigisme discussed here. According to Tupy,
In a social democracy, individuals and corporations continue to own the capital and the means of production. Much of the wealth, in other words, is produced privately. That said, taxation, government spending, and regulation of the private sector are much heavier under social democracy than would be the case under pure capitalism.dirigisme.... remember that term!!!
dirigismists!!!