Community and the Economy - The Theory of Public Co-Operation (Hardcover)

Throughout recent years conventional political distinctions and ideologies have been on the retreat. The failure of monolithic state Marxism in Central and Eastern Europe has at last been recognized, whilst ideologues on the right have announced the death of the idea of society. To many this claim is premature, there remains a conviction that a political and social system might emerge which satisfies the needs of both the individual and the community as a whole. "Community and the Economy" offers a broad criticism of individualistic notions of liberty, equality and prosperity. Taking a fresh look at "Community" it highlights three badly neglected but fundamental values: fraternity, complementary association and democratic participation. The author finds that pointers to these values have existed, surprisingly, even in complex modern economies. Thus, it is possible for economic interests to collaborate freely with each other and government, in the cause of public interests. Although flawed and restrictive, this phenomenon of "public co-operation" is crucial. Conventional thinking and practice are wrong to polarize, as they do, just on competition and state control. In a conceptual a