Distributism--The Basics

Neither a capitalism nor a socialism, distributism was inspired by the teachings of Leo XIII in encyclicals such as Rerum Novarum and in the 1930's by Pius XI in Quadragesimo Anno. While not all distributists were Roman Catholics, the position was most often associated with Catholic thinkers and activists, such as G.K. Chesterton, Hiliare Belloc, Eric Gill, Vincent McNabb, and Dorothy Day. Its key teachings included:

1. The distribution of property across the widest possible number of people. This was thought to be maximized by small farms, independent shopkeepers, craft guilds, and so on.
2. The principle of subsidiarity, which holds that all power and action should be carried out at the lowest level of organization necessary. Big government should be strictly limited to matters of national concern. Not all distributists were anti-monarchical.
3. Centralization is the least efficient way to take care of things--"Small is beautiful." Act locally.
4. The Napoleonic division of property among all heirs is best.
5. Workers should all have disposable shares in a business.
6. House and homeland are more important values than race and empire. Family is at the center of production and social life.
7. Economic and political arrangements should maximize human freedom and its responsibilities.
8. All human beings are equal and made in the image of God. All the above follows from this truth.
9. Distributists were divided over the role of machinery in work and common life.
10. Likewise, not all distributists were agrarian in their ideals. Some were more comfortable in town life.