What will the future of work, social freedom, and employment look like? In an era of increased job insecurity and social dislocation, is it possible to reshape economics along democratic lines in a way that genuinely serves the interests of the community? Of Labour and Liberty arises from Race Mathews’s half-century and more of political and public policy involvement. It responds to evidence of a precipitous decline in active citizenship, resulting from a loss of confidence in politics, politicians, parties, and parliamentary democracy; the rise of "lying for hire" lobbyism; increasing concentration of capital in the hands of a wealthy few; and corporate wrongdoing and criminality. It also questions whether political democracy can survive indefinitely in the absence of economic democracy―of labor hiring capital rather than capital labor. It highlights the potential of the social teachings of the Catholic Church and the now largely forgotten Distributist political philosophy and program that originated from them as a means of bringing about a more equal, just, and genuinely democratic social order. It describes and evaluates Australian attempts to give effect to Distributism, with special reference to Victoria. And with an optimistic view to future possibilities it documents the support and advocacy of Pope Francis, and ownership by some 83,000 workers of the Mondragon cooperatives in Spain. This book will interest scholars and students of Catholic social teaching, history, economics, industrial relations, and business and management.

Of Labour and Liberty: Distributism in Victoria, 1891–1966

History

Mathews, Race

World

University of Notre Dame Press

There is little enthusiasm today for massive state ownership, and no trust in the alternative of unbounded capitalism. Third Way proposals have often turned out to be no less sterile. Veteran Labor thinker Race Mathews argues for distributism--the belief that ownership should be widely distributed rather than concentrated in the hands of the state or wealthy minorities. Mathews draws on the legacies of Christian socialism, social Catholicism, mutualism, associative democracy and civil society for a new vision of society: evolved distributism. He sees common ground between distributism and mutualist bodies such as mutual assurance societies, building societies, co-operatives and credit unions. He also warns that the conversion of mutuals into conventional companies robs the community of assets needed for social reconstruction. He points to evolved distributism, on the model of the great employee-owned co-operatives complex at Mondragon in Spain, as an authentic Third Way.

Jobs of Our Own: Building a Stakeholder Society: Alternatives to the Market and the State

Business & Money

Economics

Distributist Review Press

Jobs of Our Own: Building a Stake-Holder Society

Pluto Pr Australia

This study works from the premise that there is little enthusiasm today for massive state ownership, and no trust in the alternative of unbounded capitalism. Third Way proposals have often turned out to be no less sterile. Veteran Labour thinker Race Mathews argues for distributism - the belief that ownership should be widely distributed rather than concentrated in the hands of the state or in wealthy minorities. Drawing on the legacies of Christian Socialism, Social Catholicism, mutualism, associative democracy and civil society, the author proposes a new "evolved distributism" vision of society. He sees common ground between distributism and mutualist bodies such as mutual assurance societies, building societies, co-operatives and credit unions. Race Mathews also warns that the conversion of mutuals into commercial companies is robbing the community of assets which are needed for social reconstruction. He points to evolved distributism on the model of the co-operatives complex at Mondragon in Spain as an authentic Third Way.

Jobs of Our Own: Building a Stake Holders Society: Alternatives to the Market and the State (Radical Writing)

This book arises from the author's half a century and more of political and public policy involvement. It's a response to evidence of a precipitous decline in active citizenship, resulting from a loss of confidence in politics, politicians, parties and parliamentary democracy; the rise of 'lying for hire' lobbyism; increasing concentration of capital in the hands of a wealthy few; and corporate wrong-doing and criminality. It questions whether political democracy can survive indefinitely in the absence of economic democracy - of labour hiring capital rather than capital labour. It highlights the potential of the social teachings of the Catholic Church and the now largely forgotten Distributist political philosophy and program that originated from them as a means of bringing about a more equal, just and genuinely democratic social order. It describes and evaluates Australian attempts to give effect to Distributism, with special reference to Victoria. It documents as grounds for hope the support and advocacy of Pope Francis, and ownership by some 83,000 workers of the Mondragon co-operatives in Spain. Race Mathews is a former Chief of Staff to Gough Whitlam, Federal MP, Victorian MP and Minister, Local Government Councillor, academic, speech therapist and primary teacher. He has held numerous positions in the Australian Labor Party and the co-operative and credit union movements and has written and spoken widely about their history, attributes, and activities. A major focus of his research has been the great complex of worker-owned co-operatives at Mondragon in the Basque region of Spain and its origins in the social teachings of the Catholic Church. He is married to writer Iola Mathews, and lives in Melbourne.

Of Labour and Liberty: Distributism in Victoria 1891-1966 (Politics)

Monash Univ Pub

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