Distributism: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Economic theory promoting local control}} | {{Short description|Economic theory promoting local control}} | ||
{{redirect|Distributivism|the algebraic concept|Distributivity}} | {{redirect|Distributivism|the algebraic concept|Distributivity|the theory of language|Distributionalism}} | ||
{{Original research|date=March 2021}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} | ||
[[File:Three acres and a cow.JPG|thumb|upright=1.0|Self-portrait of [[G. K. Chesterton]] based on the distributist slogan "[[Three acres and a cow]]"]] | |||
{{Christian democracy sidebar|expanded=principles}} | {{Christian democracy sidebar|expanded=principles}} | ||
{{social teachings of the popes}} | {{social teachings of the popes}} | ||
'''Distributism''' is an [[economic theory]] asserting that the world's productive assets should be widely owned rather than concentrated.<ref name=Zwick/> Developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, distributism was based upon [[Catholic social teaching]] principles, especially those of [[Pope Leo XIII]] in his [[encyclical]] ''[[Rerum novarum]]'' (1891) and [[Pope Pius XI]] in ''[[Quadragesimo anno]]'' (1931).<ref>Coulter, Michael (2007). ''Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science and Social Policy''. [[Scarecrow Press]]. p. 85. {{ISBN|978-0-8108-5906-7}}</ref><ref>McConkey, Dale; Lawler, Peter (2003). ''Faith, Morality, and Civil Society''. [[Lexington Books]]. p. 50. {{ISBN|978-0-7391-0483-5}}</ref><ref>[[Patrick Allitt|Allitt, Patrick]] (2000). ''Catholic Converts: British and American Intellectuals Turn to Rome''. [[Cornell University Press]]. p. 206. {{ISBN|978-0-8014-8663-0}}</ref> It has influenced Anglo [[Christian Democratic]] movements,<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Caldecott |first=Stratford |date=1991 |title=Distributism and Christian Democracy |url=https://www.pdcnet.org/chesterton/content/chesterton_1991_0017_0001_0141_0142 |journal=The Chesterton Review |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=141–142|doi=10.5840/chesterton199117151 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and has been recognized as one of many influences on the [[social market economy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belloc |first=Hillarie |title=Standard Texts on the Social Market Economy: Two Centuries of Discussion |publisher=Ludwif-Ehard-Stiftung |year=1982 |editor-last=Wünsche |editor-first=Horst Friedrich |pages=331–334 |chapter=The Restoration of Property |editor-last2=Stützel |editor-first2=Wolfgang |editor-last3=Watrin |editor-first3=Christian |editor-last4=Willgerodt |editor-first4=Hans |editor-last5=Hohmann |editor-first5=Karl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Corrin |first=Jay P. |date=1988 |title=The Neo-Distributism of Friedrich A. Hayek and Wilhelm Röpke |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_thought_1988-12_63_251/page/396/mode/2up |journal=Thought |volume=63 |issue=251 |pages=397–412|doi=10.5840/thought198863429 }}</ref> | '''Distributism''' is an [[economic theory]] asserting that the world's productive assets should be widely owned rather than concentrated.<ref name=Zwick/> Developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, distributism was based upon [[Catholic social teaching]] principles, especially those of [[Pope Leo XIII]] in his [[encyclical]] ''[[Rerum novarum]]'' (1891) and [[Pope Pius XI]] in ''[[Quadragesimo anno]]'' (1931).<ref>Coulter, Michael (2007). ''Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science and Social Policy''. [[Scarecrow Press]]. p. 85. {{ISBN|978-0-8108-5906-7}}</ref><ref>McConkey, Dale; Lawler, Peter (2003). ''Faith, Morality, and Civil Society''. [[Lexington Books]]. p. 50. {{ISBN|978-0-7391-0483-5}}</ref><ref>[[Patrick Allitt|Allitt, Patrick]] (2000). ''Catholic Converts: British and American Intellectuals Turn to Rome''. [[Cornell University Press]]. p. 206. {{ISBN|978-0-8014-8663-0}}</ref> It has influenced Anglo [[Christian Democratic]] movements,<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Caldecott |first=Stratford |date=1991 |title=Distributism and Christian Democracy |url=https://www.pdcnet.org/chesterton/content/chesterton_1991_0017_0001_0141_0142 |journal=The Chesterton Review |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=141–142|doi=10.5840/chesterton199117151 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and has been recognized as one of many influences on the [[social market economy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belloc |first=Hillarie |title=Standard Texts on the Social Market Economy: Two Centuries of Discussion |publisher=Ludwif-Ehard-Stiftung |year=1982 |editor-last=Wünsche |editor-first=Horst Friedrich |pages=331–334 |chapter=The Restoration of Property |editor-last2=Stützel |editor-first2=Wolfgang |editor-last3=Watrin |editor-first3=Christian |editor-last4=Willgerodt |editor-first4=Hans |editor-last5=Hohmann |editor-first5=Karl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Corrin |first=Jay P. |date=1988 |title=The Neo-Distributism of Friedrich A. Hayek and Wilhelm Röpke |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_thought_1988-12_63_251/page/396/mode/2up |journal=Thought |volume=63 |issue=251 |pages=397–412|doi=10.5840/thought198863429 }}</ref> | ||
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== Background == | == Background == | ||
The mid-to-late 19th century witnessed an increase in the popularity of [[political Catholicism]] across [[Europe]].<ref>Adams, Ian (1993). ''Political Ideology Today''. Manchester University Press. pp. 59–60. {{ISBN|978-0-7190-3347-6}}</ref> According to historian Michael A. Riff, a common feature of these movements was opposition to [[secularism]], capitalism, and socialism.<ref name="Riff, Michael A. 1990 p. 35"/> In 1891 [[Pope Leo XIII]] promulgated ''[[Rerum novarum]]'', in which he addressed the "misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class" and spoke of how "a small number of very rich men" had been able to "lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself".<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 3.</ref> Affirmed in the encyclical was the right of all men to own property,<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 6.</ref> the necessity of a system that allowed "as many as possible of the people to become owners",<ref name="Leo XIII, Rerum novarum, 46">Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 46.</ref> the duty of employers to provide safe [[working conditions]]<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 42.</ref> and sufficient wages,<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 45.</ref> and the right of workers to [[Trade union|unionise]].<ref name="Leo XIII, Rerum novarum, 49">Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 49.</ref> [[Common ownership|Common]] and [[government ownership|government]] property ownership was expressly dismissed as a means of helping the poor.<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 4.</ref><ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 15.</ref> | The mid-to-late 19th century witnessed an increase in the popularity of [[political Catholicism]] across [[Europe]].<ref>Adams, Ian (1993). ''Political Ideology Today''. Manchester University Press. pp. 59–60. {{ISBN|978-0-7190-3347-6}}</ref> According to historian Michael A. Riff, a common feature of these movements was opposition to [[secularism]], capitalism, and socialism.<ref name="Riff, Michael A. 1990 p. 35"/> In 1891 [[Pope Leo XIII]] promulgated ''[[Rerum novarum]]'', in which he addressed the "misery and wretchedness pressing so unjustly on the majority of the working class" and spoke of how "a small number of very rich men" had been able to "lay upon the teeming masses of the laboring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself".<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 3.</ref> Affirmed in the encyclical was the right of all men to own property,<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 6.</ref> the necessity of a system that allowed "as many as possible of the people to become owners",<ref name="Leo XIII, Rerum novarum, 46">Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 46.</ref> the duty of employers to provide safe [[working conditions]]<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 42.</ref> and sufficient wages,<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 45.</ref> and the right of workers to [[Trade union|unionise]].<ref name="Leo XIII, Rerum novarum, 49">Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 49.</ref> [[Common ownership|Common]] and [[government ownership|government]] property ownership was expressly dismissed as a means of helping the poor.<ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 4.</ref><ref>Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'', 15.</ref> | ||
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== Economic theory == | == Economic theory == | ||
{{economic systems sidebar|expanded=by ideology}} | {{economic systems sidebar|expanded=by ideology}} | ||
=== Private property === | === Private property === | ||
In ''Rerum novarum'', Leo XIII states that people are likely to work harder and with greater commitment if they possess the land on which they labour, which in turn will benefit them and their families as workers will be able to provide for themselves and their household. He puts forward the idea that when men have the opportunity to possess property and work on it, they will "learn to love the very soil which yields in response to the labor of their hands, not only food to eat, but an abundance of the good things for themselves and those that are dear to them".<ref>Pope Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'' : 47, 1891</ref> He also states that owning property is beneficial for a person and his family and is, in fact, a right due to God having "given the earth for the use and enjoyment of the whole human race".<ref>Pope Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'': 8, 1891.</ref> | In ''Rerum novarum'', Leo XIII states that people are likely to work harder and with greater commitment if they possess the land on which they labour, which in turn will benefit them and their families as workers will be able to provide for themselves and their household. He puts forward the idea that when men have the opportunity to possess property and work on it, they will "learn to love the very soil which yields in response to the labor of their hands, not only food to eat, but an abundance of the good things for themselves and those that are dear to them".<ref>Pope Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'' : 47, 1891</ref> He also states that owning property is beneficial for a person and his family and is, in fact, a right due to God having "given the earth for the use and enjoyment of the whole human race".<ref>Pope Leo XIII, ''Rerum novarum'': 8, 1891.</ref> | ||
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== Politics == | == Politics == | ||
[[File:Triangle of economic systems.png|thumb|250px|Distributism's relation to [[socialism]] and [[capitalism]]]] | [[File:Triangle of economic systems.png|thumb|250px|Distributism's relation to [[socialism]] and [[capitalism]]]] | ||
{{Basic forms of government|power ideology}} | |||
The position of distributists, when compared to other political philosophies, is somewhat paradoxical and complicated (see [[Triangulation (politics)|triangulation]]). Firmly entrenched in an [[Organic (model)|organic]] but very [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|English Catholicism]], advocating culturally traditional and [[Agrarianism|agrarian]] values, directly challenging the precepts of [[Whig history]]—Belloc was nonetheless an MP for the Liberal Party, and Chesterton once stated, "As much as I ever did, more than I ever did, I believe in Liberalism. But there was a rosy time of innocence when I believed in Liberals".<ref name="orthodoxy">{{cite book | last=Chesterton | first=G. K. | title=Orthodoxy | publisher=BiblioBazaar | year=2008 | page=49 | isbn=978-0-554-33475-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Wl2QyGUL0EC&pg=PA49 }}</ref> | The position of distributists, when compared to other political philosophies, is somewhat paradoxical and complicated (see [[Triangulation (politics)|triangulation]]). Firmly entrenched in an [[Organic (model)|organic]] but very [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|English Catholicism]], advocating culturally traditional and [[Agrarianism|agrarian]] values, directly challenging the precepts of [[Whig history]]—Belloc was nonetheless an MP for the Liberal Party, and Chesterton once stated, "As much as I ever did, more than I ever did, I believe in Liberalism. But there was a rosy time of innocence when I believed in Liberals".<ref name="orthodoxy">{{cite book | last=Chesterton | first=G. K. | title=Orthodoxy | publisher=BiblioBazaar | year=2008 | page=49 | isbn=978-0-554-33475-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Wl2QyGUL0EC&pg=PA49 }}</ref> | ||
Distributism does not favour one political order over another (political accidentalism). While some distributists such as [[Dorothy Day]] have been [[Anarchism|anarchists]], | Distributism does not favour one political order over another (political accidentalism). While some distributists such as [[Dorothy Day]] have been [[Anarchism|anarchists]], most Chestertonian distributists are opposed to the mere concept of anarchism. Chesterton thought that distributism would benefit from the discipline that theoretical analysis imposes and that distributism is best seen as a widely encompassing concept that any number of interpretations and perspectives can fit inside of. This concept is expected to fit a political system broadly characterized by widespread ownership of productive property.<ref>G. K. Chesterton, [https://archive.org/details/theoutlineofsanity ''The Outline of Sanity''](Norfolk, Va.: IHS Press, 2001), p. 90</ref> | ||
In the United States, the [[American Solidarity Party]] generally adheres to Distributist principles as its economic model. [[Ross Douthat]] and [[Reihan Salam]] view their ''Grand New Party'', a roadmap for revising the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party in the United States]], as "a book written in the distributist tradition".<ref>{{cite web |author=Ross Douthat |url=https://twitter.com/DouthatNYT/statuses/317053001070161920 |title=Twitter post |date=27 March 2013}}</ref> | In the United States, the [[American Solidarity Party]] generally adheres to Distributist principles as its economic model. [[Ross Douthat]] and [[Reihan Salam]] view their ''Grand New Party'', a roadmap for revising the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party in the United States]], as "a book written in the distributist tradition".<ref>{{cite web |author=Ross Douthat |url=https://twitter.com/DouthatNYT/statuses/317053001070161920 |title=Twitter post |date=27 March 2013}}</ref> | ||
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The Brazilian political party, [[Humanist Party of Solidarity]], was a distributist party, alongside the [[National Distributist Party]] in England,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PPm12944|title=View registration – The Electoral Commission|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref> and the [[Democratic Labour Party (Australia, 1980)|Democratic Labour Party]] in Australia. | The Brazilian political party, [[Humanist Party of Solidarity]], was a distributist party, alongside the [[National Distributist Party]] in England,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PPm12944|title=View registration – The Electoral Commission|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref> and the [[Democratic Labour Party (Australia, 1980)|Democratic Labour Party]] in Australia. | ||
In the first round of the [[2024 Romanian presidential election]], candidate [[Călin Georgescu]], | In the first round of the [[2024 Romanian presidential election]], candidate [[Călin Georgescu]], an independent candidate who advocates for a system based on distributism and [[sovereigntism]] received 23% of votes and qualified for the second round.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/calin-georgescu-si-elena-lasconi-in-turul-doi-al-alegerilor-prezidentiale-2024-5096303 | title=Călin Georgescu și Elena Lasconi, în turul doi al alegerilor prezidenţiale 2024 | date=25 November 2024 }}</ref> | ||
== Influence == | == Influence == | ||
=== E. F. Schumacher === | === E. F. Schumacher === | ||
Distributism is known to have influenced the economist [[E. F. Schumacher]],<ref>Opdebeeck, Hendrik, ed. Frontiers of Business Ethics, Volume 11 : Responsible Economics : E. F. Schumacher and His Legacy for the 21st Century. Oxford, GBR: Peter Lang AG, 2013. p. 12.</ref> a convert to Catholicism.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Phillips |first=Leigh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OSOCgAAQBAJ&dq=Distributism+%22Toryism%22&pg=PT226 |title=Austerity Ecology & the Collapse-Porn Addicts: A Defence Of Growth, Progress, Industry And Stuff |date=2015-10-30 |publisher=John Hunt Publishing |isbn=978-1-78279-961-0 |language=en}}</ref> | Distributism is known to have influenced the economist [[E. F. Schumacher]],<ref>Opdebeeck, Hendrik, ed. Frontiers of Business Ethics, Volume 11 : Responsible Economics : E. F. Schumacher and His Legacy for the 21st Century. Oxford, GBR: Peter Lang AG, 2013. p. 12.</ref> a convert to Catholicism.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Phillips |first=Leigh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OSOCgAAQBAJ&dq=Distributism+%22Toryism%22&pg=PT226 |title=Austerity Ecology & the Collapse-Porn Addicts: A Defence Of Growth, Progress, Industry And Stuff |date=2015-10-30 |publisher=John Hunt Publishing |isbn=978-1-78279-961-0 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
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* Australia – [[Democratic Labour Party (Australia, 1980)|Democratic Labour Party]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distributism |url=https://dlp.org.au/about/distributism/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Democratic Labour Party |language=en-US}}</ref> | * Australia – [[Democratic Labour Party (Australia, 1980)|Democratic Labour Party]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distributism |url=https://dlp.org.au/about/distributism/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Democratic Labour Party |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
* Romania – [[Pirate Party Romania]] | * Romania – [[Pirate Party Romania]] | ||
* United States – [[American Solidarity Party]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Platform |url=https://www.solidarity-party.org/platform |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=American Solidarity Party |language=en-US}}</ref> | * United States – [[American Solidarity Party]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Platform |url=https://www.solidarity-party.org/platform |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=American Solidarity Party |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
* Mexico | * Mexico – [[Nationalist Front of Mexico]] | ||
=== Historical === | === Historical === | ||
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* [[Horacio de la Costa]] | * [[Horacio de la Costa]] | ||
* [[J. P. de Fonseka]] | * [[J. P. de Fonseka]] | ||
*[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] | |||
* [[Eric Gill]] | * [[Eric Gill]] | ||
* [[Douglas Hyde (author)|Douglas Hyde]] | * [[Douglas Hyde (author)|Douglas Hyde]] | ||
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{{political ideologies}} | {{political ideologies}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Portal bar|Economics|Politics}} | {{Portal bar|Catholic Church|Economics|Politics}} | ||
{{authority control}} | {{authority control}} | ||