History of Distributism ~ Global Distributists: 1) Introduction ~ Origins of Distributism

Today, we begin a series of articles from Global Distributists on the origins of Distributism and how it's been adapted and implemented around the world.

From Global Distributists

Origins of Distributism

Distributism is an economic and social philosophy that emphasizes the importance of widely distributed productive property, such as land and capital, in order to promote economic justice, self-sufficiency, and strong communities. Appearing in the ways of many traditional societies, and espoused in Christian social teaching, distributism has evolved over time to address the challenges of modern capitalism and socialism. This page provides an overview of the history of distributism, from its early beginnings to its present-day resurgence as a political movement.

Distributism as a socio-economic philosophy has been found in many traditional societies including the indigenous and all major religions. However, "distributism" as a well defined term comes from the Catholic social teaching by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 particularly the Catholic encyclical Rerum Novarum. Rerum Novarum emphasized the importance of families having private property and the rights of workers, laying the groundwork for the development of distributist thought.

In the early 20th century, English authors G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc began to articulate the principles of distributism as a response to the perceived shortcomings of both capitalism and socialism. They argued that the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few led to social and economic injustice, and that distributism offered an alternative approach that emphasized the importance of property ownership for all members of society.

Distributism distinguishes itself from both socialism and capitalism through its unique approach to property ownership and resource distribution. While capitalism encourages private ownership and the accumulation of wealth, often leading to vast income disparities and monopolistic control, socialism calls for state or public ownership of the means of production to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources. Distributism, on the other hand, advocates for widespread private ownership of productive property, aiming to create a more decentralized economy that empowers individuals and communities. This economic system supports small businesses, cooperatives, and family-owned enterprises, fostering a sense of self-reliance and local autonomy. By emphasizing the importance of the widespread distribution of property and wealth, distributism offers a distinct alternative to both the free-market competition of capitalism and the centralized control of socialism, striving for a balanced and sustainable approach to economic organization.

As all things Distributism is a collection of a variety of ideas which were already happening at the time the term was coined.