ABSTRACT
The communication deals with the 1991’s book of Albert O. Hirschman, Rhetoric of reaction: perversity. futility. Jeopardy, showing its importance in relation with the contemporary debate on the possibilities of the welfare state. The thesis of Hirschman is that the contemporary conservative criticism on the welfare state is a revival of the thesis that had been already argued before opposing the expansion of civil and political rights. The same way as those rights, contemporary social rights would: (i) produce the contrary of what is the desire of policymakers; (ii) produce no effect at all; (iii) cost too much, jeopardizing democracy or economic growth. Perversity, futility and jeopardy are the main attributes of action according to the conservative view; that’s why its proposal is so reactionary. That is why, as well, considering the danger of action, its success rests on its competence to persuade that history not allowing anything to be done or to be created. Politics is just a case for administrative skills.
KEYWORDS:
Review; Hirschman