A posição de J. S. Mill em relação ao Estado: os casos das sociedades ´ civilizadas´ e das sociedades ´atrasadas´

This paper analyses J.S. Mill?s conceptions on what would be the proper form of government and the proper scope of State intervention in economic life. It is argued that, for Mill, the answer depended on the type of society in question. In ?backward? societies, in which the population encountered itself in a very low state of moral and intellectual improvement, the adequate form of government would be enlightened despotism and the adequate scope of the State intervention in economic and social life very great. In ?civilized? societies, on the contrary, the ideal political regime would be the Representative Government, and laissez-faire, in general lines, the best policy. It is also argued that despite Mill?s conclusion that Representative Government and economic liberty would not be applicable or adequate to every kind of society, they had a great importance on his philosophy as ideals to be aimed at.