redirigiste

Redirigiste is a term used in French-language political and economic discourse to describe a person who advocates for redirecting economic policy, resources, or production toward specific goals or sectors, typically through targeted intervention or guided investment rather than broad laissez-faire or full central planning. The term implies a deliberate shift in policy direction rather than a complete overhaul of the economic system.

Etymology and scope: The word comes from rediriger, meaning to redirect, with the suffix -iste indicating a practitioner or advocate. It is mainly found in discussions about industrial policy in France and other Francophone regions, and is less common in English-language economics.

Context and usage: A redirigiste may support policies that steer capital, subsidies, or public support toward strategic industries, environmental objectives, regional development, or social goals, while allowing private enterprise to operate in areas not targeted by intervention. It is often presented as a middle ground between liberal market approaches and centralized dirigisme, though the exact policy mix can vary widely and the label can be used descriptively or pejoratively by critics.

Criticism and notes: Critics argue that the term can be vague or ideologically charged, conflating different policy tools under a single label. Because redirection can take many forms, the distinction between redirigisme and other forms of industrial policy or pragmatist governance is frequently debated in political and economic analyses.