In fact 99% of states already have hybrid systems.
Only North Korea, and arguably Cuba have not.
North Korea is the most convincing modern example of a full-blown communist state.
If you wish to argue that the USA is a fully capitalist state I would have to argue with that conclusion. Even though the USA is often talked of in these terms it has a great many state institutions from social security to emergency services, to educational establishments to infrastructure management (road-building etc.) national park management to all military and intelligence services and many other services which require planning, administration and the employment of hundreds of thousands of state employees. All entities not in private hands are in the state’s hands, in the USA just as in most nations.
There is not one single nation worldwide that is fully capitalist.
Admittedly the USA is the largest and most capitalist of nations with the most fervent proponents of capitalism as the best economic system of all. It could with some justice be termed a hyper-capitalist nation due to the enthusiasm with which it is defended and indeed propagated.
I will argue however that it is failing in a primary and most important way. Failing that is the population of the USA. It is not failing those few who own and run the capitalist enterprises in question. They are better rewarded for their endeavors than ever before.
Remember we are talking of the ideal STATE here... not just which country has most billionaires.
What we call communism and which those who initiated it in the Soviet Union and its satellite nations of the Warsaw Pact called socialism (communism was to come at a later stage) had a baptism of fire from which it barely recovered.
Russia is the largest nation in the world by land mass. I have traveled across it via the Trans-Siberian Express and can vouch for that. From Moscow to Irkutsk (not even the farthest east in Russia you can go) took near constant traveling of three entire days. Imagine then how immense the task of administering the entire Soviet Union must have been,
What is called ‘Stalin’s Constitution’ of 1936 was an attempt to manage that task by empowering local administrators in the decision making process. It was simply impossible for Moscow to exert control, especially as the road, rail and communications network was rudimentary and the fact that the education system was not providing the skilled manpower to allow the levels of central control necessary to make Russia a truly totalitarian state. Much if not most power remained, of necessity, devolved to the regions and localities.
The goal was to achieve full communism. But even socialism struggled to be made a success. The ambitions and emotions of human beings and their diverse interests, intelligence levels and motivations mitigated against the creation of what was thought to be the 'ideal state’ where all resources belonged to all the people and only them, and for them to gain the full benefit thereby.
A Pandora’s Box of problems was opened up through all those who had built up farms and other businesses over many generations, whether they were good or bad employers, being ousted and their businesses nationalized. Cooperatives were then organized which struggled to be efficient and diverse ambitions conflicted with one another, especially just a year after Stalin’s constitution when the ‘Great Purge’ began which ended two years later with over one million and a half dead. The milieu Stalin presided over where quotas for the ‘enemies of the state’ were demanded of state security forces and in many cases exceeded traumatized the Russian people in a different but equally horrific way as its 27 million victims of the Nazis in WWII soon to follow.
Though many will say Stalin achieved a great deal for his people the numbers who died and who were devastated in so many ways during his time count this kind of state out for my goal of locating an ideal.
Western capitalism has seen similar atrocities, the initial genocide of the native population of what would become the USA was committed in the capitalist spirit of untamed ambition and greed. The slavery that followed also. The British Empire was capitalist aggression personified with the ruthless exploitation of other nations’ resources. The ‘Opium Wars’ with China also saw the most cynical elements of callous capitalism displayed. The common element in all cases is the careless disregard of others in the relentless push for personal gain.
Today we see Democratic Capitalism growing ever more popular in the United States. I look in favor at this development and I hope to see it rise still further and command the very heights of American political life eventually. However, something tells me it won’t be enough to stave off the threats we will face in the future from further pandemics to climate change.
I do not believe that Social Democracy or Democratic Socialism will move western societies far enough to be able to fully confront what’s to come. Both of these encourage ever more economic growth as the “solution” to almost everything along with attendant social policies to lighten the burden of those at the bottom of society. I would suggest that this is laudable enough but not sufficient at all in regard to facing what we will have to face before too long.
In my view any socialism will have to come much closer to the tenets of communism. Naturally not at all repeating the mistakes of the past in allowing psychopaths entry to the highest positions but certainly much more centralized governance that can plan effectively and mobilize in the event of the kind of pandemic we see a pathetic and haphazard approach to now by the individuated and power-weak states that exist in the West.
China has demonstrated how a hybrid economy with central control can be most effective in these situations and I would recommend the West moves toward the Chinese model as quickly as possible while there is time. Naturally I don’t see any prospect of this happening soon... or ever. Western elites are thoroughly enmeshed in a cultural, political trap bounded in intransigent myths in this respect.
However, I do recommend a hybrid economy where compassionate, voluntary and sustainable socialism is practiced. In this society all public utilities from energy to transport to finance are held for the benefit of all in public ownership. Only strictly-regulated capitalist enterprises to be allowed, kept to the highest ethical standards thus ensuring they operate for the public good.
Add in an end to seeking infinite economic growth, a complete change of emphasis from having to being, a universal basic income and citizens living low maintenance lifestyles to bring about a sustainable world for future generations to the mix.
Though absolutes are unobtainable and a completely ideal state is impossible due to the variation in the state of human character, this would be my considered recommendation for the most ‘ideal state’ possible.
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