Of Labour and Liberty: Distributism in Victoria, 1891-1966

What will the future of work, social freedom, and employment look like? In an era of increased job insecurity and social dislocation, is it possible to reshape economics along democratic lines in a way that genuinely serves the interests of the community? Of Labour and Liberty arises from Race Mathews's half-century and more of political and public policy involvement. It responds to evidence of a precipitous decline in active citizenship, resulting from a loss of confidence in politics, politicians, parties, and parliamentary democracy; the rise of lying for hire lobbyism; increasing concentration of capital in the hands of a wealthy few; and corporate wrongdoing and criminality. It also questions whether political democracy can survive indefinitely in the absence of economic democracy--of labor hiring capital rather than capital labor. It highlights the potential of the social teachings of the Catholic Church and the now largely forgotten Distributist political philosophy and program that originated from them as a means of bringing about a more equal, just, and genuinely democratic social order. It describes and evaluates Australian attempts to give effect to Distributism, with special reference to Victoria. And with an optimistic view to future possibilities it documents the support and advocacy of Pope Francis, and ownership by some 83,000 workers of the Mondragon cooperatives in Spain. This book will interest scholars and students of Catholic social teaching, history, economics, industrial relations, and business and management.

Author: Race Mathews
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
Published: 02/28/2018
Pages: 422
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.58lbs
Size: 9.12h x 6.00w x 1.12d
ISBN: 9780268103415

About the Author
Mathews, Race: - Race Mathews is a former chief of staff to Gough Whitlam, Federal MP, Victorian MP, and Minister. He is the author of a number of books, including Jobs of Our Own: Building a Stakeholder Society and Australia's First Fabians: Middle-Class Radicals, Labour Activists and the Early Labour Movement.