Privileged Ideas and State Interests

Abstract

The puzzle that intrigues us is the source of interests that guide the state in instances of state autonomy. We argue that one important source of these interests is ideas: When relative state autonomy exists over long periods of time, there is a strong likelihood of a privileged idea that informs state interests. State actors direct state policy during autonomous periods by adopting and privileging particular ideas (institutionalization), resulting in policy outcomes reflecting these now privileged ideas. This argument is examined in two case studies: nuclear weapons targeting since World War II, guided by counterforce, and federal public lands forestry policy since 1900, guided by technocratic utilitarianism.