The National Being · Chapter
Chapter XIII explained
The author argues against relying on the State and representative government for economic reform, asserting that such institutions are dominated by economic power holders and are not malleable to the general will.
What happens
The author argues against relying on the State and representative government for economic reform, asserting that such institutions are dominated by economic power holders and are not malleable to the general will. He advocates for voluntary cooperative action as a means to achieve democratic control and economic freedom, allowing the general will to manifest freely and transform society from a static to a dynamic condition.
Themes in this chapter
Balancing Democracy and Aristocracy
The author contrasts democratic ideals with the reality of aristocratic control in legislatures, arguing that economic power undermines true democracy.
Cooperative Economics and Rural Community
The chapter advocates for voluntary cooperative societies as a flexible and efficient alternative to state action, enabling the general will to manifest.
Critique of Individualism and Materialism
The author criticizes a society organized with 'egomania' as the predominant factor, where vested interests conflict with the public welfare.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator reflects on the failures of representative government and the dominance of economic power, expressing a desire for cooperative organization to enable the general will.
Key passages
“My distrust of the State in economic reform is based on the belief that governments in great nation-states, even representative governments, are not malleable by the general will. They are too easily dominated by the holders of economic power, are, in fact, always dominated by aristocracies with land or by the aristocracies of wealth.”
The author distrusts the State for economic reform because governments, even representative ones, are controlled by economic elites and not responsive to the general will.
This captures the core critique of representative government and its susceptibility to economic power.
“If we concentrate our efforts mainly on voluntary action, striving to make the cooperative spirit predominant, the general will would manifest itself through organizations malleable to that will, flexible and readily adjusting themselves to the desires of the community.”
Focusing on voluntary cooperative action allows the general will to express itself through flexible and responsive organizations.
This highlights the author's proposed solution of cooperative economics over state intervention.