The politics and economics of "intermediate regimes"

Abstract

Michal Kalecki used term iintermediate regimnes to describe governments in which lowermiddle-class and rich peasantry couild be identifiod as performing role of ruling class. Kalecki recognised that such governments wEoulld have to enter into some arrangements with nzative ulppermiddle-class; that such arrangements might range fromi far-reaching nationalisation (usually with compensationz) to a mere limtitation of scope of private investment coupled with attempts, as a rule rather ineffective, to adjust its structure to general goals of development; and that the choice of particular variant of dealing with big business is determined not so mzuch by ideology of ruling class, as by strength of formner. Further, it was his vi,?w that way in which land reform is carried out would limit potentialities of increasing agricultural output, as small farms would be unable to expand their production under prevailing agrarian relations. Nor did he expect farm labourers, workers in small factories, or unemployed and casually unemployed to benefit perceptibly from growth process under these conditions. Nevertheless, and this is what is most significant, he thought systemn could be politically viable. Kalecki's analysis of intermediate regiimes deserves closer examination. Fro not only do social classes (or strata) which stand between proletariat and bourgeoisie form bulk of population in most of underdeveloped countries (as in Marx's own time) but new forms of political and economic organisation, various technological advances, and emerging international political alignments themselves offer a wider range of options to these countries than were available until middle of present century. Whether state capitalism can provide a viable economic basis for regimes dominated by one or more of these classes, what characteristics and tendencies it is likely to develop within this kind of political framework, and how much a system could evolve over a period of time in these countries are therefore questions of considerable importance today. Their relevance to India neecds hardly to be mentioned.