×
Free, Equal, and Mutual
Rebalancing Society for the Common Good
Paperback
June 2018
9781907359941
More details
- Publisher
Hawthorn Press - Published
22nd June 2018 - ISBN 9781907359941
- Pages 280 pp.
- Size 6" x 9.25"
$29.00
“We are living in a crisis-ridden ‘Brexit and Trump’ time, with the rise again of toxic nationalism and populism, and with both Britain and the USA and also countries of the EU exploring their social futures. This affords a golden opportunity for re-imagining a Europe—and a world—with distinct-but-connected, vibrant narratives of cultural flourishing, of respecting fundamental human rights, of thriving social businesses, and of care for the planet, which is our common home.” — Nicanor Perlas (from his foreword)
The brutal implementation of market fundamentalism generates massive human insecurity and inequality. People feel precarious and angry, and afraid for their jobs, homes, children, health, wellbeing, identity, and lifeways. Left/right pendulum politics swings from “more market” to “more state.”
Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) saw the dangers of this unstable “market/state” duopoly. He suggested the radical conditions and three-way dynamics of politics, economy, and culture. He saw the urgent need for creating the conditions for lasting peace when campaigning for a threefold “commonwealth” society in war-torn Germany of 1917–1919. He saw self-determination for individuals as healthy, but prophetically saw “national self-determination” under Versailles as a recipe for toxic nationalism and more wars. His alternative was a dynamic society based on mutuality, equality, freedom, and earth-care for the wellbeing of people and the planet.
This anthology of twenty inspiring and practical chapters draws on Steiner’s social vision—from Triodos’ ethical banking to land for people, biodynamic farming, freeing schools, subtle advocacy, associative economics, and a sustainable, biodynamic food revolution.
“Free, Mutual and Equal shows a way ahead for rebalancing society through a cooperative commonwealth economy based on ‘voluntary socialism,’ and a rights-based state and a flourishing civil society, all working for the common good.”
—David Drew, MP, Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, UK“Full of concrete, exciting examples...a golden opportunity to re-imagine Europe and the world.”
—Nicanor Perlas, Right Livelihood Award, 2003“Celebrates the growing diversity of ways to secure a pluralist commonwealth. Land reform, democratic ways to control money, and cooperative ownership are exemplified as core foundations for building a new economy for the common good.”
—Pat Conaty, Common Futures
C O N T E N T S:
Foreword by Nicanor Perlas
Introduction
PART ONE: PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIETAL THREEFOLDING
1. Steve Briault: Rudolf Steiner’s Threefold Image of a Healthy Society
2. Andrew Scott: Images of the Human Being and Their Effect on Humanity’s Relationship to Power
3. Christopher Schaefer: Nine Propositions in Search of a Threefold Social Order
4. Steve Briault: Threefold Development at Work in Organizations
5. John Bloom: A Primary Approach to Threefold Thinking
6. Edward Udell: Rudolf Steiner and Social Threefolding during and after the First World War
PART TWO: THE CHALLENGES
7. Martin Large: Rebalancing Society for the Common Good
8. Christopher Schaefer: The Dance of Shadows in America: Reflections on the US Presidential Election of 2016
9. Gerald Häfner: Great Again? Thoughts about the World Situation
PART THREE: INSPIRED INITIATIVES
10. Christine Arlt: SEKEM—A Model for Holistic Sustainable Development in Egypt
11. Robert Karp: A New American Revolution? Associative Economics and the Future of the Food Movement
12. Martin Large: Land for People, Homes, Farms, and Communities
13. Christopher Schaefer: Toxic Excess: Income Inequalities and the Fundamental Social Law
14. Richard House: Education beyond Capital and the Neoliberal State
15. Glen Saunders: Money and the Threefold Social Order Movement
PART FOUR: OPENINGS FOR CO-CREATING OUR SOCIAL FUTURE
16. Steve Briault: Three Conversations: Human Encounter in Threefold Society
17. Christoph Strawe with Martin Large: How Threefolding Fits—or not—with Current Political Ideologies, and Dialogue in Threefolding Developments: An Interview
CONCLUSION: Telling a New Free, Equal, Mutual, and Earth-caring Story by Martin Large
About the Contributors
Index
Martin Large
Martin Largeis a facilitator, lecturer, activist and social business enabler, chairing the Community Land Trust National Demonstration Project , 2005-9 and Stroud Common Wealth. Author of Social,Ecology (1981) andCommon Wealth (2010).
Steve Briault
Steve Briaultis Director of Development at Emerson College, Sussex, and an international consultant in organisation and community development. Author of The Mystery of Meeting – Relationships as a Path of Discovery, and Liquidity – Flowing Forms in Water and Money.
