Prof Lawrence Sáez: Hybrid capitalism and the development of a welfare state in Asia. SOAS
Channel: SOAS University of London
Date: 2014-04-25

This Inaugural Lecture by Professor Lawrence Sáez entitled "Hybrid capitalism and the development of a welfare state in Asia" was given on 24th April 2014 at SOAS, University of London.

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Why is there such variation in development of a welfare state in Asia?  This lecture will map out the unique characteristics of Asian capitalism.  Professor Sáez then engages with two strands of the literature —one dealing with varieties of capitalism (VoC) and the other one with opposition to political reform— in order to argue that these two theoretical frameworks have limited applicability to Asia.  In order to address these weaknesses, Professor Sáez will propose a new typology of hybrid capitalist economies.  The lecture will then argue that Asia's unique forms of hybrid capitalism enables the state to direct new forms of political bargaining and that it lends itself to new forms of political opposition to reform, particularly as it pertains to the development of a welfare state.

Professor Lawrence Sáez is Professor in the Political Economy of Asia in the Department of Politics.  His research is focused on comparative political economy, particularly as it pertains to the challenges of economic reform across different industry sectors in emerging markets.  He is the author of The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): An Emerging Collaboration Architecture for South Asia (Routledge 2011), Federalism Without a Centre: The Impact of Political Reform and Economic Liberalization on India's Federal System (Sage 2002) and Banking Reform in India and China (Palgrave MacMillan 2004).  He is the co-editor (with Gurharpal Singh) of New Dimensions of Politics in India: United Progressive Alliance in Power (Routledge 2011) and co-editor (with Katharine Adeney) of Coalition Politics and Hindu Nationalism (Routledge 2005).