Dreigliedrig

Dreigliedrig, in the context of social theory often referred to as the Dreigliederung des sozialen Organismus or Soziale Dreigliederung, is a concept that argues for organizing society along three independent but interrelated realms: economic life, political life, and cultural-spiritual life. The central aim is to prevent the concentration of power in any single sphere and to enable freedom, initiative, and cooperation through clearly separated domains.

Originating with the German esotericist and social reformer Rudolf Steiner, the concept was developed and presented in 1919, in the wake of World War I. Steiner urged a reform of the social order that would resist both laissez-faire capitalism and centralized state control, proposing instead autonomous spheres governed by their own laws and institutions. The three realms should interact through voluntary cooperation rather than top-down coercion.

In practice, the economic sphere would be organized through free markets, cooperatives, and associations that manage production, distribution, and exchange without undue state direction. The political sphere would comprise constitutional, rights-based structures that mediate conflicts and protect freedom, while avoiding direct economic governance by the state. The cultural-spiritual sphere would include education, science, religion, and the arts, operating independently of economic and political power.

Reception of the idea has been mixed. It has influenced certain reform movements, alternative education initiatives, and some anthroposophical and cooperative projects, while critics argue that the model is difficult to implement in complex modern economies and politics. It remains a niche framework within broader discussions of economic democracy and social organization.