Collectivism emphasizes interactivity between people and prioritizes the group or society over the individual. There are two types: horizontal, with equal members sharing resources, and vertical, with a social hierarchy. It is a philosophy behind socialism and can exist without government. Criticisms include stifling diversity and extreme statism. Most political and social systems contain a blend of collectivism and individualism.
Collectivism describes any perspective or philosophy that emphasizes interactivity between people. It is often considered the opposite of individualism, although both can be important within a single perspective. In a collective philosophy, the group or society takes precedence over the individual.
There are two basic types of collectivism: horizontal and vertical. In the horizontal typology, members of the collective are considered as equal as possible, sharing resources and responsibilities. Vertical variety includes a social hierarchy that members of society work to maintain, and people submit to those above them in the hierarchy.
Collectivism is perhaps best known as one of the philosophies behind socialism. Communist and fascist societies have been described as collectivist, or more specifically as vertical forms. Early collectivist political thought, exemplified by Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s 1762 Social Contract, was more horizontal or democratic in nature. Rousseau’s work eventually inspired both communism and democracy.
While the writings of Rousseau and Marx, along with most socialist and democratic communities in practice, rely on government to represent the will of the people, this is not a necessary component of a collectivist system. For example, collectivist anarchism does not require government or private property, but rather small communes owning property together. Similarly, small horizontal collectivist communities may have no leader or centralized authority. An example of such a community is Israel’s kibbutzim, small farming communities where people voluntarily share all labor and property.
Criticisms against this philosophy often take the line that it is at the expense of the individual. Collectivist thinking can promote a certain group identity to the point of stifling diversity. It also carries the danger of extreme statism, where the government or political entity controls every aspect of the economy and society, and where people exist to serve the government and not the other way around. Stalinism and fascism are two of the best known examples of such extreme forms.
Most political and social systems, both in theory and in practice, contain a blend of collectivism and individualism. For example, in the current United States, individuals may own property, but local, state, and federal governments fund some public social programs. Most thinkers agree that both the individual and the community are important to society. Disagreement arises from the nature and level of importance assigned to each.
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