What is Paternalism?

Paternalism is a very old concept, in which the focus of the management approach is that the state or the administrative focus is more knowledgeable, and manages those under it. Paternalism, which means Latin, paternalism and paternalism, is a management approach that has been emphasized since Socrates and has reflections on today’s global ideologies. In the political literature, paternalism is to make decisions on behalf of individuals in society with their experience and knowledge for their benefit and well-being against their consent. In paternalism, it is assumed that individuals are deprived of making the best decision for themselves due to ignorance and for different reasons. At this point, purposes such as the public interest and the survival of the country for the decision taken on behalf of the society can be put forward as valid reasons for taking decisions on behalf of individuals. Paternalism can be embodied as accepting individuals as a child and doing so for the sake of their sake, whether it hurts or not voluntarily to vaccinate them. In paternalism, while the ruling elite adopts a protective, observant and moralist attitude towards the people, it is expected from the public to show obedience, loyalty and consent. Theoretically, paternalism is based on the political philosophies of Socrates and Plato. Plato stated that the state administration is a large-scale modeling of the family administration and stated that the high class, which has the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, can make all kinds of decisions for the sake of the people. Socrates states that the weak people in the society cannot guide their lives and make healthy decisions, and that decisions must be made for them. Paternalism supports the class society structure as well as making decisions against the people’s consent. It defends the necessity of hierarchy for society and state. It supports a class of nobility in a social sense.

Paternalism has also shaped the foundations of contemporary fascism and communism ideologies. Making decisions on behalf of the people in paternalism and distancing it from black processes manifests itself very clearly in Fascism. In addition, it finds a place in the foundations of Communism in terms of the implementation of practices for the benefit and well-being of the people, based on the argument that individuals need protection and direction in social, moral and economic terms. Paternalism is regarded as an authoritarian management philosophy, since its free will and maturity to make decisions about itself is ignored in its approach to the individual.

Paternalism is based on the principle of despite the people for the people. The concept of “state father”, which is frequently heard in Middle Eastern societies, in essence reflects the roots of paternalism. In paternalism, decision makers take place with roles such as protective, directing and guiding represented by the father figure.

Although paternalism was quite common among small societies living in tribal order in primitive times, today it finds its place with its different reflections in 3rd World countries or Socialist Eastern European countries. Paternalism finds its place within ideologies in different ways. Advanced versions of paternalism may appear in the form of authoritarian despotic management approaches. Indeed, Richard Senneyt; He describes paternalism as an authoritarian form of exploitation based on false love. Senneyt, besides the understanding of protecting individuals by paternalism, puts forward his distrust, hence fear, and also reveals the flaws he has for modern social management.

What Mill expressed about paternalism manifests itself in the example of George Pullman. The American industrialist businessman George Mortimer Pullman ensured that the workers he worked in the locomotive and car factory owned houses and stayed in his own houses around the factory in order to get more efficiency. It is forbidden to consume alcohol, cigarettes and to sleep after a certain hour in the factory residences they stay. He wanted to reflect the strict protective, moralistic, disciplined attitude of a father over his children. However, when viewed from a broad perspective, it was seen that Pullman’s paternal attitude towards his workers was based on the benefit he gained from them and the purpose of gaining more benefits. Another point that is criticized is the sectarian structure that does not share Pullman’s power. Another name exemplifying the philosophy of paternalism is the Russian dictator Josef Stalin. Stalin’s statement “The State is a family and I am your father” is considered the clearest summary of paternalism. Another prominent advocate of paternalism in modern times is the 22nd and 24th US president Grover Cleveland.