Individualist-collectivist dichotomy

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A recurrent theme in capitalist ideology is the apparent contradiction between individualism and collectivism. Individualism is here taken to be emphasis on the freedom of the individual, while collectivism is the subordination of this individual to the interests of the collective.

Capitalism and individualism

The confusion between socialism and collectivism

Often the individualist-collectivist dichotomy is followed with the allegation that socialists are firmly on the collectivist side.[1] This does not accurately represent the beliefs of socialists. Socialists do harshly critique capitalist individualism, but this is only a critique of a flawed individualism that instead of empowering the individual serves to restrain and punish them.

Meaning of "socialism"

Perhaps this confusion surrounding the goals of socialists originates in the term "socialist" itself, which seems to be asserting the precedence of the social over the individual. This is true, it does do this! However, we need to be careful in what sense. While capitalist individualism only gives us control over our individual affairs, socialism proposes that we should take agency over our social existence as well. Capitalism only allows the individual control over the property it recognises they have, socialism urges each individual to take control over their entire social sphere, and help their comrades assert such control as well. Knowing this, it is easy to see why socialists hold that their beliefs are a more radical expression of individualism than capitalist ideology.[2] Socialism is the effort to subordinate the collective to the individual. Capitalism is the effort to constrain the individual within the borders of his so-called "private property," a state institution that allegedly allows him his liberty, but in fact does just the opposite.

Socialists believe that capitalism does not provide a proper solution to the demands of individualism. Lacking in capitalist ideology is the understanding that the individual is already subordinated to the collective. Since the individual has material needs which they cannot fulfil on their own, they are always forced to step into economic relations with other people. The freedom to determine these relations is severely limited by the social relations that are already in existence. The goal of socialism is not to free the individual from the discipline of their material existence, but to give them agency over the social system that's meant to tackle it.

As such socialism acknowledges the way the individual is already subordinated to the collective—a fact which capitalists ignore—and strives to subordinate the collective to the individual to close this circle.

In practice, this means socialists want to give each person control over all domains in their life. They must be given ownership over the places they live and work. If they share these spaces with other people, they must be governed democratically. Next to this, the larger economy should be organised according to a mutually agreed upon plan directly serving the needs of those who execute it. We cannot engage in commodity fetishism, i.e. the ideological assumption that merely trading in commodities means our interests are represented in the social system. So-called free markets have both designed and emergent properties that go against this goal.

Collective action

It is impossible to meaningfully change the structure of your social system by yourself. In order to accomplish this you will need to find other people with the same problems as yourself, so that you can collectively assert your individual interests. This collective act of free individual agency may be confused with collectivism, but it is precisely the opposite. Collectivism, in as far as it is distinct from individualism, is entirely reliant on divide-and-conquer tactics. As long as people are kept unorganised, incapable of setting up new systems for collective action, the continuation of the ruling order is secured.

For this reason socialists want to see people share knowledge with each other, set up trade unions, get involved in political parties, organise revolts, and eventually build a revolution.

References