The state and political system according to hayek

Twentieth century witnessed great struggle of the States and sections of society which were organised in the light of ideologies. In this century, with the effect of collective thought, it has been got away from liberalism. Particularly until 1970s, thoughts supporting planning and state intervention to economy have also beseted liberal thought. On the one hand Hayek struggled against socialist and fascist thoughts and practises which have totalitarian collective approach; on the other hand he struggled against approachs in liberal thoght which were aiming at effectiveness of the State at economy and planning. While struggling in these two fronts, Hayek never gave up his struggle. With his struggle Hayek enabled liberal thought which seemed as dead, to revive and dominate at Free World in 1970s. Consequently, collapse of socialist block at 1990s was seen as victory of liberal thought. Political system and State ideas of Hayek, who is one of the pioneers of neoliberal thought, enabled perceptions in Western societies which are based on individual freedoms and which force the State to carry out its essential tasks, to dominate. To understand his struggle and thoughts better, principles and history of liberal thought and Hayek's lifestory have been firstly dealt with in this study, then, Hayek's ideas on political system and the State which are based on freedom and convenient with rule of law and free market have been set forth. Hayek predicted that, in order to guarantee freedom, on the one hand legislation and execution should absolutely be seperated , on the other hand with he supported with federal system and stregthening of local governments. According to theory of Hayek, since social and economic orders are the ones spontaneous, political system and State based on freedom should organize their facilities in a way that it does not prevent this characteristic of social order and free market. At Hayek's thought, political system based on rule of law, enables predictability in the way that it protects free market and individual freedom. At free market based on rule of law, individual can use his own knowledge for aim of himself. Political system claimed by Hayek is designed such a way that it guarantees freedom of the individual. Althought it has applicability difficulties on issues as suffrage and voting age, at Hayek's political system theory, individual freedom is tried to be guaranteed by enabling a balance between democracy and freedom. Keywords: Hayek, Liberalism, The State, Political system.