Mutualism - key concepts

Proudhon - mutualism

• System of fair and equitable exchange, in which individuals or groups bargain with one another and trade goods/services without profiteering or exploitation

Proudhon - “property is theft”

• Not opposed to all forms of private ownership

  • 2 distinct forms of property - property vs possessions

    • Property is theft when it is related to a capitalist whose ownership is derived from exploitation, and is only maintained through the state/property laws/police/army

• Admired independence and initiative of small communities of peasants/craftsmen/artisans

  • Swiss watchmakers manage affairs based on mutual cooperation

Proudhon - “property is liberty”

• Property is not theft when it is

  • Removed from oppression and exploitation

  • The product of one’s own labour

  • Based on occupancy

  • Used to create liberty e.g. allow someone to be self-employed through their trade and not rely on an employer

• Property creates freedom for the peasant/artisan family who have a natural right to their home/land/tools of a trade

• NOT taking the shirt of someone’s back

Type of society that property creates

“Possessors without masters”

Final goal for property ownership/key concept

• Property ownership should be a “synthesis of the notions of private property and collective ownership”

  • E.g. property ownership should avoid exploitation and promote social harmony while still allowing people to have their right to property to free them from exploitation

The economy should…

• Comprise of voluntary and mutually beneficial harmonious interactions

• Require no regulation or govt interference