Collectivism, in general, is a term used to describe a theoretical or practical emphasis on the group, as opposed to (and seen by many of its opponents to be at the expense of) the individual. Some psychologists define collectivism as a syndrome of attitudes and behaviors based on the belief that the basic unit of survival lies within a group, not the individual.

This article discusses collectivism as a common theme that spans a broad category of non-individualistic philosophies, many of which significantly differ from each other in other ways.

Some types of collectivism state that the good of the group is more important than the good of the individual, while others argue that, since any group is ultimately made up of individuals, the individual incidentally serves his own interests by serving the group's interests (in other words, as the group prospers, all members of the group prosper). Detractors from this latter position argue that it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine that what is beneficial for a group is always beneficial for every individual that comprises it. Collectivism may also be associated with altruism since what is good for the group may conceivably require the sacrifice of at least one individual's self-interest. Altruism is either a practice or habit (in the view of many, a virtue) as well as an ethical doctrine. ...

There is much baggage with the term collectivism, and it is considered diametrically opposed to individualism. Both collectivism and individualism are interpreted differently by different people. In some cases, the same people may characterize themselves as both individualists and collectivists, depending on the situation. Individualism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence. ...

Politics

Some political collectivists hold that different groups have competing interests, and that the individual's interests and characteristics are in fact tied up with the interests and characteristics of his or her group. In this line of thought, differences between groups are considered more significant than differences between individuals within groups. In metaphysics and statistics, the word individual, while sometimes meaning a person, more typically describes any numerically singular thing. ...

Other political collectivists emphasize the notions of equality and solidarity, and see all human beings as part of the same group, with similar interests. They maintain that competition and rivalry between individuals or smaller groups is overall counter-productive or detrimental, and should therefore be replaced with some form of cooperation.

There are also collectivists who combine the two views presented above, arguing, for example, that the present-day situation is the one presented in the first view (there are several competing groups), but that we should strive to reach the situation presented in the second view (one large cooperating group).

Economics

Since collectivism is a very broad category, it is very difficult to define what exactly constitutes a "collectivist" position on a certain issue. However, generally speaking, collectivism in the field of economics holds that capital and land should be owned by the group (and presumably used for the benefit of all) rather than being owned by individuals (private property). Central to this view is the concept of the commons, as opposed to private property. Often, collectivists argue that many (perhaps all) valued commodities are public goods, and are difficult to, or should not be privatized, such as environmental goods, national defense, law enforcement and information goods. Capital has a number of related meanings in economics, finance and accounting. ... In England and Wales, a common is a piece of land over which other people -- often neighbouring landowners -- could exercise one of a number of traditional rights, such as allowing their cattle to graze upon it. ... // Use of the term The concept of property or ownership has no single or universally accepted definition. ... In economics, a public good is one that cannot or will not be produced for individual profit, since it is difficult to get people to pay for its large beneficial externalities. ... Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ... A plants defence The words defense (AmE) or defence (CwE) can refer to any of the following: For defense of a doctoral dissertation see thesis committee For the military term see defense (military) Civil defense measures and emergency preparedness In politics, defense may be a euphemism for war For... For the band, see The Police. ... In law, particularly in common law jurisdictions, intellectual property is a form of legal entitlement which allows its holder to control the use of certain intangible ideas and expressions. ...

Relying on individual choice for the provision of public goods is seen to lead to market failure and the free rider problem. Collective action, enforced by authorities, social pressure or coercion, is thus seen to be the only reliable means of ensuring a supply of a public good. In economics, a public good is one that cannot or will not be produced for individual profit, since it is difficult to get people to pay for its large beneficial externalities. ... In economics, a market failure is a situation in which markets do not efficiently organize production or allocate goods and services to consumers. ... In the analyses of economics and political science, free riders are actors who take more than their fair share of the benefits or do not shoulder their fair share of the costs of their use of a resource, involvement in a project, etc. ... The economic theory of collective action is concerned with the provision of public goods (and other collective consumption) through the collaboration of two or more individuals, and the impact of externalities on group behavior. ...

Collectivist societies

There are many examples of societies around the world which have characterized themselves or have been characterized by outsiders as "collectivist".

On the one hand, there are the communist states, which have often collectivized most economic sectors (and agriculture in particular). On the other hand, there are Israeli kibbutzim (voluntary communes where people live and farm together without private ownership), and communities such as the Freetown Christiania in Denmark (a small anarchist political experiment centered around an abandoned military installation in Copenhagen; Christiania has laws abolishing private property). A Communist state is a term for a state governed by a single political party which declares its allegiance to the principles of Marxism-Leninism. ... Kibbutz Dan, near Qiryat Shemona, in the Upper Galilee, 1990s A kibbutz (Hebrew: קיבוץ; plural: kibbutzim: קיבוצים, gathering or together) is an Israeli collective community. ... Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Iowa A farm is the basic unit in agriculture. ... This street flows from the main entrance in Christiania (Copenhagen). ... A military installation is a facility directly owned and operated by and/or for the military or one of its branches. ... Copenhagen (Danish: København) is the capital and largest city of Denmark. ... This page deals with property as ownership rights. ...

Anti-collectivism

As noted in the opening paragraphs of this article, the term "collectivism" itself is more often used by anti-collectivists than by anyone else. Some, such as Ayn Rand and many influenced by her, supporters of an ideology called Objectivism, claim that collectivism is fallacious in theory and immoral in practice. They further argue that many (perhaps most) political ideologies (other than Objectivism itself) are forms of collectivism or at least contain significant collectivist elements. Others make specific objections to specific issues that they see as part of collectivism. Many anti-collectivists argue that collectivist emphasis on the group suppresses individual rights (while many collectivists argue that their policy is aimed at maximizing the rights and benefits of all - or most - individuals within a group). Ayn Rand (February 2, 1905–March 6, 1982; first name pronounced (IPA) (rhymes with mine)), born Alissa Alice Zinovievna Rosenbaum, was a popular and controversial American philosopher and novelist, best known for her philosophy of Objectivism and her novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. ... Objectivism is opposed to subjectivism and may mean: Metaphysical objectivism The philosophy of Ayn Rand, Objectivist philosophy The poetry of the Objectivist poets Moral objectivism, Objective morality This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Individual rights is a legal term referring to what one is allowed to do and what can be done to an individual. ...

In The strange death of capitalist individualism, J. A. Banks argues that "liberal capitalism" has been succeeded by a system of "private collectivism", based upon large, hierarchical, and often transnational corporations. These corporations regard their employees and even their high-paid executives as dispensable, interchangeable commodities, ignoring their individuality and only purchasing labour that requires a minimum set of skills. Oligarchic directors with vastly inflated salaries lead from the top of steep corporate hierarchies and are often unaccountable even to shareholders. Private collectivism contrasts with the traditional capitalist mode of production, in which individual capitalists employed workers, invested in capital and collected profits directly, rather than a collective organization (the joint stock corporation). A multinational corporation (MNC) or transnational corporation (TNC) is one that spans multiple nations; these corporations are often very large. ... Oligarchy is a form of government where most political power effectively rests with a small segment of society (typically the most powerful, whether by wealth, military strength, ruthlessness, or political influence). ...

Anti-capitalists generally see such developments as the inevitable result of capitalism, and argue that the idealized version of capitalism that is supported by Banks and others is something that never truly existed, cannot exist, or cannot be sustained over time. Anti-capitalism is any and all opposition to capitalism. ...

Quotes

"For if the nineteenth century was a century of individualism it may be expected that this [the 20th century] will be the century of collectivism and hence the century of the State...." - Benito Mussolini

Related Topics

• communalism
• communitarianism