Intervencionisme

Intervencionisme, or interventionism, is a political and economic doctrine that endorses active government involvement in the economy and society to pursue goals such as economic stability, growth, equity, and social protection. It rests on the view that markets alone are insufficient to allocate resources efficiently or provide public goods.

In the economic realm, interventionism encompasses fiscal and monetary policy, regulation of competition, subsidies, tariffs, industrial policy, price controls, public works, and welfare programs, as well as state-owned enterprises. In social policy, it includes unemployment insurance, healthcare, education, and housing programs. Some strands emphasize planning and strategic investment, others emphasize targeted stabilization.

Foreign and security policy can also reflect interventionism, including humanitarian or military intervention, alliance commitments, and international stabilization efforts when national interests or global security are at stake.

Historically, interventionism rose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a response to economic downturns and social unrest. It reached a high point in the mid-20th century with Keynesian economics and the expansion of welfare states, and persisted in varied forms through the postwar era and the mixed economies of Western Europe. Critics argue it reduces efficiency and freedom, while supporters contend it mitigates recessions, narrows inequality, and builds resilience.

The late 20th century saw waves of liberalization in some regions, but many economies retain substantial interventionist policies. In the 2000s and beyond, governments often deploy discretionary stimulus and regulatory reforms in response to financial crises and emergencies.