Business Quote by Roger Scruton
““Oakeshott believed that civil association has been increasingly displaced by enterprise, under pressure from political elites, managers, parties and ideologues. It is not only socialists with their goals of equality and social justice who have contributed to this displacement. The liberal attempt to adopt the contours of an abstract and universal idea of justice and human rights; the supposedly conservative pursuit of economic growth as the root of social order and the goal of government – these too have a tendency to displace civil association with a new kind of political practice, in which the institutions of society are bent towards a goal that may be incompatible with their inner dynamic.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Meaning of Conservatism by Roger Scruton, 1980
Civil society is being replaced by a goal‑driven, managerial political order shaped by elites, reducing space for organic community interaction.
In simple terms: Community is being overtaken by goal‑focused politics.
Key Takeaway
Protect and nurture genuine civil associations.
Themes
civil society
political theory
community
elitism
institutional change
Mood
concerned
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- local governance
- grassroots activism
- public policy debates
- community building
- civil engagement
Key Concepts
conservatism
social contract
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance efficient governance with preserving community autonomy?
- What role should citizens play in reshaping political institutions?
A Different Perspective
The shift may also bring efficiency and coordination benefits that some view as necessary.
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![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)