This article fascinates me. I was drawn to it from a comment in your more current “Companies are the new City-States” article. In the comment, you pointed out that Mondragon went in the opposite direction than did U.S. companies vis-a-vis the government. My framework before reading this article was (as you mention) the Rockefellers and Carnegies, so I wasn’t well-disposed to see corporations as city-states. (I grew up in something like a company town.) I saw corporations as the authors of the abuses that the state had to correct with Child Labor Laws, etc. starting with Teddy Roosevelt.
But the idea that democracy and a kind of economic life together as modeled by Arrizmendiarrieta and Ormaetxea interests me.
I was wondering what would happen when Franco listened to the cooperatives’ competition and pressured the cooperative workers. When he got rid of their social security benefits, the founders seemed to be in a position to provide pensions and other retirement benefits instead.
In that scenario, I again have a limited background do draw on. I thought of Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life — how the entire town chipped in to save the savings and loan when Potter threatened to shut it down.
The model interests me because I’ve become a big fan of N.T. Wright, an historian and theologian who recognizes that Paul’s intent was not to produce theory (though Paul kind of invented theology, from Wright’s perspective) but to nurture a praxis. His assemblies would model a better way of doing civic life. The democratic and supportive means that his assemblies would do religion/politics/economics would draw people oppressed by the Roman Empire’s way of doing religion/politics/economics. Their life together would testify that the long-awaited kingdom of God had, in some preliminary sense, come.
In a way, this is very much Arrizmendiarrieta and Ormaetxea’s idea. Don’t do it on paper. Do it with associations. Don’t fight the state. Outdo the state. If the state comes after you, deal with it, but keep pointing at, supporting, and improving your own model.
Thank you for my introduction to what was going on in Spain in this regard over the last century.
A very interesting read. However, as someone who is physically unable to work (even with accommodations my disability would prevent me from managing more than an hour or two a week), I can't help feeling that this focus on economy has the same ableist undertones as Capitalism - that you are only worth your productivity.
Certainly I agree it is a much better alternative to the current system, but it assumes a healthy population (and given that millions are continuing to become disabled by Covid, our collective health will only continue to dwindle until we start taking precautions as a majority).
What an inspiring article. I had no idea that this cooperative program existed during the dark days of the Spanish Civil War. This is the sort of history that should be taught in our schools in order to ensure that future generations understand how precious democracy really is . Thank you so much for this - I shall try to find out more ❤️
Very interesting. I wasn't aware of Father José María Arizmendiarrieta, and your piece is very enlightening.
Especially this:
--Arizmendiarrieta’s manifesto is not done, and perhaps that’s why it could never be penned down on paper. “We should not live cooperativism as if what is accepted and decided at a given moment were something unchangeable,” he said. “Rather, we should admit it as a process of experience in which it is possible and may be necessary to adapt as many modifications as can contribute to cooperativism.”--
One cannot foresee the future, so it's imperative to make amends for that; that is, do not write a manifesto in stone, but rather view it as a template subject to change.
In my novel "The Replicant, the Mole & the Impostor", I do a similar thing. As the uplifted refugees form a virtual nation (the Evolving Nisi Ethicality), they explicitly state in their manifesto:
"These addendums are — like the manifesto and the definitions below — subject to change after evolving insights;"
Thank you for posting this important article. The work of Father José María Arizmendiarrieta is more important now than ever, because the income disparities between the wealthy and the rest of us have reached unprecedented and unconscionable levels.
So many great quotes of wisdom, thanks for putting in the time and effort to write about Mondragon.
The need for a single source of knowledge about Mondragon, like a manifesto, is evident. I hope you are working to create this. Could be a great service to all of humanity.
Just from your two brief articles you’ve written about Mondragon, I have been inspired to take action towards cooperativism in my lifetime!
I really like the practical thinking. Solving a problem by doing. If that plan fails then try something different,. Change the process not the goal. The best part is not waiting for salvation. Others may or may not help, you need to start working on fixing the problem yourself, action motivates others. Excellent article, thank you.
Such an inspiring story with so many practical examples of how a grassroots effort can create a better working world. Thank you for this excellent piece!
This article fascinates me. I was drawn to it from a comment in your more current “Companies are the new City-States” article. In the comment, you pointed out that Mondragon went in the opposite direction than did U.S. companies vis-a-vis the government. My framework before reading this article was (as you mention) the Rockefellers and Carnegies, so I wasn’t well-disposed to see corporations as city-states. (I grew up in something like a company town.) I saw corporations as the authors of the abuses that the state had to correct with Child Labor Laws, etc. starting with Teddy Roosevelt.
But the idea that democracy and a kind of economic life together as modeled by Arrizmendiarrieta and Ormaetxea interests me.
I was wondering what would happen when Franco listened to the cooperatives’ competition and pressured the cooperative workers. When he got rid of their social security benefits, the founders seemed to be in a position to provide pensions and other retirement benefits instead.
In that scenario, I again have a limited background do draw on. I thought of Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life — how the entire town chipped in to save the savings and loan when Potter threatened to shut it down.
The model interests me because I’ve become a big fan of N.T. Wright, an historian and theologian who recognizes that Paul’s intent was not to produce theory (though Paul kind of invented theology, from Wright’s perspective) but to nurture a praxis. His assemblies would model a better way of doing civic life. The democratic and supportive means that his assemblies would do religion/politics/economics would draw people oppressed by the Roman Empire’s way of doing religion/politics/economics. Their life together would testify that the long-awaited kingdom of God had, in some preliminary sense, come.
In a way, this is very much Arrizmendiarrieta and Ormaetxea’s idea. Don’t do it on paper. Do it with associations. Don’t fight the state. Outdo the state. If the state comes after you, deal with it, but keep pointing at, supporting, and improving your own model.
Thank you for my introduction to what was going on in Spain in this regard over the last century.
A very interesting read. However, as someone who is physically unable to work (even with accommodations my disability would prevent me from managing more than an hour or two a week), I can't help feeling that this focus on economy has the same ableist undertones as Capitalism - that you are only worth your productivity.
Certainly I agree it is a much better alternative to the current system, but it assumes a healthy population (and given that millions are continuing to become disabled by Covid, our collective health will only continue to dwindle until we start taking precautions as a majority).
What an inspiring article. I had no idea that this cooperative program existed during the dark days of the Spanish Civil War. This is the sort of history that should be taught in our schools in order to ensure that future generations understand how precious democracy really is . Thank you so much for this - I shall try to find out more ❤️
Very interesting. I wasn't aware of Father José María Arizmendiarrieta, and your piece is very enlightening.
Especially this:
--Arizmendiarrieta’s manifesto is not done, and perhaps that’s why it could never be penned down on paper. “We should not live cooperativism as if what is accepted and decided at a given moment were something unchangeable,” he said. “Rather, we should admit it as a process of experience in which it is possible and may be necessary to adapt as many modifications as can contribute to cooperativism.”--
One cannot foresee the future, so it's imperative to make amends for that; that is, do not write a manifesto in stone, but rather view it as a template subject to change.
In my novel "The Replicant, the Mole & the Impostor", I do a similar thing. As the uplifted refugees form a virtual nation (the Evolving Nisi Ethicality), they explicitly state in their manifesto:
"These addendums are — like the manifesto and the definitions below — subject to change after evolving insights;"
Great read, many thanks!
I so agree. The ability to adapt as we go is crucial. I love that that's how the nation works in your book!
Thank you for posting this important article. The work of Father José María Arizmendiarrieta is more important now than ever, because the income disparities between the wealthy and the rest of us have reached unprecedented and unconscionable levels.
So many great quotes of wisdom, thanks for putting in the time and effort to write about Mondragon.
The need for a single source of knowledge about Mondragon, like a manifesto, is evident. I hope you are working to create this. Could be a great service to all of humanity.
Just from your two brief articles you’ve written about Mondragon, I have been inspired to take action towards cooperativism in my lifetime!
I'm working on it, and notes like yours keep me going. So long as words inspire actions, I'll keep them coming!
I really like the practical thinking. Solving a problem by doing. If that plan fails then try something different,. Change the process not the goal. The best part is not waiting for salvation. Others may or may not help, you need to start working on fixing the problem yourself, action motivates others. Excellent article, thank you.
Yes, exactly! Thanks Conor.
Such an inspiring story with so many practical examples of how a grassroots effort can create a better working world. Thank you for this excellent piece!
I so agree. Thanks Adam!