The Servile State · Chapter
Conclusion explained
The author reflects on the difficulty of predicting the future, but identifies a strong tendency in societies that broke with Christian civilization in the 16th century—particularly North Germany and Great Britain—toward the reestablishment
What happens
The author reflects on the difficulty of predicting the future, but identifies a strong tendency in societies that broke with Christian civilization in the 16th century—particularly North Germany and Great Britain—toward the reestablishment of a servile status. He argues that capitalist anarchy cannot endure and that only two stable solutions exist: a return to well-divided property or the reestablishment of servitude. He notes that theoretical collectivism is failing and that the servile state is imminent, but he points to France and Ireland as societies likely to resist this trend, offering hope that the tendency may be modified or reversed.
Themes in this chapter
The Inevitable Tendency Toward the Servile State
The author asserts that societies breaking with Christian civilization tend toward reestablishing a servile status, and that this tendency is currently upon us.
The Inherent Instability of Capitalism
The author states that mere capitalist anarchy cannot endure and that only a few stable solutions exist.
Collectivism as a Path to Servitude, Not Socialism
Theoretical collectivism is described as plainly failing and unable to inform a real society, reinforcing the servile state tendency.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator presents his analysis of future social tendencies and his conviction that the servile state is approaching.
- Europeans
Referenced as the societies that broke with Christian civilization in the 16th century, particularly North Germany and Great Britain.
- Collectivism
Mentioned as a failing theoretical system that cannot inform a real and living society.
- D
Implied as the authorial voice (Hilaire Belloc) concluding the work with a hopeful note on the Faith's recovery.
Key passages
“So far as I can judge, those societies which broke with the continuity of Christian civilisation in the sixteenth century—which means, roughly, North Germany and Great Britain—tend at present to the reestablishment of a servile status.”
The author believes that societies that abandoned Christian tradition in the 1500s, like North Germany and Britain, are now moving toward a new form of servitude.
This summarizes the central thesis of the conclusion regarding the servile state.
“I cannot believe that theoretical collectivism, now so plainly failing, will ever inform a real and living society.”
The author dismisses collectivism as a failed theory that cannot shape an actual society.
Reinforces the rejection of collectivism as a viable alternative.
“Ireland has decided for a free peasantry, and our generation has seen the solid foundation of that institution laid.”
Ireland has chosen a system of free landowning farmers, which has been firmly established in recent times.
Highlights Ireland as a counter-example to the servile state trend.