Neotraditional Economics
In this new section, I want to investigate, with the assistance of Hungarian Prof. Janos Mate, the possible congruence between pre-material and 'post'-material economics, i.e. peer to peer influenced economics.
For an introduction to my motivation, see the mini-essay: Importance of neotraditional approaches in the reconstructive transmodern era
Discussion
Spiritual Economics
Unlike modern economics, traditional, religiously-inspired economic doctrines were not based on the accumulation of material assets, but on immaterial 'spiritual' assets. This may make these premodern traditions particularly relevant for our age.
Comments by Michel Bauwens: "Granted that we can learn from tribal gift economies that were based on reciprocity. But can we also learn from feudal economics? My perspective on this changed through a talk with Apichai Puntasen, a Thai social reformer and scholar who lectures about `Buddhist Economics'. Traditional religiously inspired economics, and I believe this would apply not only to Buddhist, but also to Islamic and why not Christian-inspired approaches, are in fact centered around the immaterial `spiritual' growth of the person, outlawing interest-based approaches based on greed. In any case, the above link is an essay showing that such tradition-inspired economics are far from dead, in fact, they are growing and forming a `new traditional economy'."
To read: http://www.appropriate-economics.org/materials/New_Traditional_Economy_-_Rosser_and_Rosser.pdf
"This paper argues that a new economic system is emerging in the world economy, that of the new traditional economy. Such an economic system simultaneously seeks to have economic decision making embedded within a traditional socio-cultural framework, most frequently one associated with a traditional religion, while at the same time seeking to use modern technology and to be integrated into the modern world economy to some degree. The efforts to achieve such a system are reviewed in various parts of the world, with greater analysis of the Islamic and neo-Confucian economic systems.
Although the new traditional economy may not exist as a fully developed system in the full Polanyian sense, it exists as a perspective in the form of an ideal model which has become an ideological movement of significance around the world in many societies. Where it has come the closest to actually existing has been in societies where its adoption has been carried out gradually and only partly consciously, with the resulting synthesis thus most fully respecting and reflecting the genuine traditions of the society in question. It is this successful synthesis of the modern and the traditional which lies at the heart of the new traditional economy perspective and its appeal for many economies seeking a path in a transforming world economy."
Andrew Paterson on the tradition of rural cooperation
Andrew Paterson:
"It is very clear to me that there is much scope to explore cooperative movement and 'talkoot' traditions (both rural and urban) in Finland, in relation to recent contemporary collaborative cultural, activist, online (swarm) practices. I think it is important to connect the rural and older generations in Finland with the organisational strategies of the young-er/-est generation.
Speaking on the regional, international level: In Latvian, Lithuanian, Swedish language, there is the word 'talka', (in Estonian, 'talgud', in Russian, 'subbotnik') which as you can guess means the same as 'talkoot'..
My Latvian friend Signe Pucena -- who as a cultural producer, researches cultural heritage traditions, as well as being part of the new media scene of Riga in the past -- were talking about this recently when she came to visit for Pixelache... We believe that returning to this rural discourse will be important.. As there is a need to resurrect the cooperative movement to collectively cope with the current financial and infrastructural crisis.. The post-communist period of the last 20yrs has not only discredited any socialist discourse, it has also encouraged self-enhancing development and individualism... She predicts that in Latvia, they will have to learn again to work together, rather than alone, and use a non-stigmatised vocabulary for it, which doesnt refer to Socialism or Communism.. ('talka' is not as commonally used a word as it is in Finland).. As you know the rural traditions of this part of the world still hold strong association and value.." (email april 2009)
More Information
- Tag with some material on the topic: http://delicious.com/mbauwens/Neotraditionalism
- New Traditional Economy
Articles
- Alanna Hartzok: Earth Rights Democracy: Public Finance based on Early Christian Teachings: This paper makes a case for a new form of democracy based on human rights to the earth as a birthright, linking this to the Judeo-Christian Jubilee Justice tradition and Old and New Testament teachings. It presents a tax fairness practical policy approach based on the ethical stance of these teachings.