eusosialitet

Eusosialitet is a theoretical framework describing a social order that seeks to maximize cooperative welfare and social belonging while safeguarding individual rights. It emphasizes reciprocity, mutual aid, and inclusive governance as central features of everyday life and policy design.

The term blends eu- (good) with sosialitet (sociality) and has appeared in academic and policy discussions since the early 2000s, particularly in debates about welfare state design, civic virtue, and solidarity economies. It is used as an analytical lens to compare how different institutional arrangements promote or hinder cooperative behavior and social cohesion.

Core principles of Eusosialitet include voluntary cooperation supported by accessible institutions, participatory decision making, and social safety nets shaped by community accountability. It advocates subsidiarity, universal access to essential services, and the promotion of cooperative enterprises as a form of economic organization. The aim is to align incentives for mutual support with protections for individual autonomy, avoiding coercive overreach while encouraging collective responsibility.

Institutions and practices associated with Eusosialitet often feature participatory budgeting, local and regional community councils, cooperative businesses, and universal basic services designed to empower people rather than merely subsidize needs. Policy design emphasizes transparency, accountability, and pathways for social mobility through skill development and inclusive governance.

Critics argue that Eusosialitet can be vague in defining its boundaries with other ideologies, may face feasibility challenges at scale, and could struggle with free-rider problems or efficiency concerns. Proponents respond that its emphasis on subsidiarity and empowerment offers a practical route to more resilient and democratic welfare arrangements.