10 Characteristics of the Autarchy
Autarchy
We explain what autarky is, its rule and how this economic condition is classified. Also, its general characteristics and examples.
What is the Autarchy?
It is called autarky, autarky or even self-sufficient economy to the economic condition of a country, region or human organization that is capable of supplying itself and satisfying its needs, without requiring elements from abroad or abroad. Thus, it would be a state of full independence in which imports of any kind would be unnecessary.
It is a term in common use in economics , but it can also be used in other fields of knowledge, such as systems analysis, the field of, the, the and even the field from which it was originally borrowed.
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Characteristics of the autarky :
Origin of the term
The word autarky comes from the Greek words autos (to itself) and arkeo (to suffice, to adapt) , from which its current sense of self-sufficiency is already intuited.
Among the ancient Greeks, especially among the Cynics, Stoics, Epicureans and Cyrenaics, autarky was a highly coveted state of being , as it was that of wise individuals: one in which the exercise of their virtue would be enough for them to exist, without necessity help from others. Autarky, autonomy and ataraxia were the great virtues of the sage for them.
General concept
In its broadest definition, the autarky of a group or an individual refers to its ability to detach itself from the system (social, economic, etc.) in which it is inserted and to be able, on its own, to guarantee its livelihood.
From there, the concept can be borrowed to describe situations or organizations in which self-sustainability is viable and represent closed systems with respect to their environment.
Types of autarky
There are two ways to classify autarky:
- Permanent autarky or temporary autarchy. According to the duration of the autarkic period, one can speak of a stage of self-sufficiency or rather something programmatic and permanent.
- Absolute or relative autarky. Depending on the degree of autonomy achieved, which may be partial (relative) or total (absolute). It is worth saying that the latter is virtually impossible to materialize in real life.
Use in economics
The greatest use of this term refers to the economic, to name the social systems that manage to self-supply their market demands (consumption).
It is a condition associated with it in its earliest stages, and usually in simpler economic systems.
It is a very frequent program in nationalist regimes, not always very democratic, whose purpose is to defend and praise what is itself before what comes from outside , which is always received with suspicion and fear of contamination.
Thus, these would minimize the entry of merchandise and foreign capital, closing around itself and its premises.
Use in politics
When speaking of an autarkic regime, it is generally alluded to the fact that its permanence in power was not decided and granted to its representatives by the majority of the, in free elections or something like that, but was imposed by the government itself. Thus, an autarkic government answers only to itself in questions of legitimacy.
Use in law
In legal matters, autarky is a form of administrative decentralization that gives it self-management capacity, its own patrimony and legal personality, always within the framework of conditions of a specific legal-political system. This means that states give themselves the ability to be bound by their own law.
Limitation of closed systems
The totally autarkic models, considered as systems closed to their environment (nothing enters from the outside and, therefore, nothing comes out) are viable only as projects and ideals that govern some methodology or administrative purpose.
That is, they are not achievable in the real world , nor are closed systems in physics: all order requires a greater or greater degree of its environment and it is difficult for it to completely isolate itself from it.
Differences between autarky and autonomy
Both terms are more or less synonymous, although the term “autonomous” emphasizes the freedom to follow one's own rules , but it has nothing to do with the margin of exchange with the outside: as long as it is done with one's own and not the imposed by third parties.
While the autarkic entities do not require the outside at all or perhaps as little as possible, and usually usually impede the transit between the inside and the outside of the company to prevent its balance between and the supply provided from being violated.
Autarchy and balance
At first glance it seems that an autarkic entity is in complete balance regarding what it needs and what it can provide itself; however, seldom have attempts at economic and social autarky been experienced in this way.
In rare cases this balance has been achieved , rather there are often scenarios of specific waiver of needs while they cannot be satisfied on their own.
Examples of autarky
Clear examples of more or less absolute autarky were constituted by the economic programs of protectionist nationalist regimes , such as those of North Korea, that of or, despite their possible ideological differences.
Each model set out to minimize the trade balance with the foreigner and to satisfy on its own everything that its people needed (or force them not to need it).
Update date: February 18, 2021.