societism

Societism is a political and economic philosophy that advocates for a society organized around cooperative enterprises and collective ownership, often contrasted with capitalism and socialism. The core idea is that private property and profit motives, as understood in capitalist systems, are detrimental to social well-being. Instead, societism proposes that the means of production should be owned and managed by society as a whole, typically through worker cooperatives and associations.

Proponents of societism believe that this model would foster a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources, eliminate the exploitation inherent in capitalist labor relations, and promote a sense of community and shared responsibility. Decision-making power would ideally be decentralized, with economic activity guided by the needs of the community rather than the pursuit of private gain. While sometimes described as a form of socialism, societism places a particular emphasis on the organizational structure of production, favoring voluntary association and democratic management of enterprises. The practical implementation and the precise mechanisms for achieving societist ideals have been subject to various interpretations and proposals throughout history, with no single universally agreed-upon blueprint.