The Servile State

Hilaire Belloc

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Description

Hilaire Belloc observed that when great power is held be a propertied class, a slave class is necessarily created. To redress the imbalance, the have-nots will be provided for by the state, which thereby becomes what Belloc calls “the servile state” – what we today call “the welfare state.” Belloc saw this as a return to an ancient type of society in which slavery flourished. To Belloc, socialism was an erroneous response to the inequalities of the industrial state. Applying socialism in a capitalist setting would lead to a return to a slave or servile society on a large scale and would inevitably lead to a loss of freedom. Belloc, instead, wanted a system under which all people would own property, be self-supporting and therefore free and able to fend for themselves against efforts of governments to constrict freedom through passage of coercive laws in the name of humanitarianism and social security.

Additional information

Weight 2 lbs
Dimensions 6.5 × 9.5 × 1 in