A NEW APPROACH IN POLITICS

   In the early years of this century the Protestants of Zurich had completely marginalized the Catholics. The latters then reorganized. They would even cross the city from one end to the other in order to buy things (even just one pin) in a shop belonging to a Catholic. Work of every kind was given to those belonging to the same religion. In this way the Catholics managed to survive and even to better their status until they are now a majority in Zurich. Originally there was not a single Catholic church in the city. Whereas by the late 40s there were 20 churches. All of them built with the financial help of churchgoers. Each one bringing whatever he could. Even a box of nails. Or a bag of cement. This episode is a typical example of 'natural contractual socialism'. And thus socialism without any political definition. A form of socialism based on spontaneous agreements.

   'Natural' contractual socialism is still today a force in Italy. A contractual agreement existing between entrepreneurs, trade unions, parties, the clergy, characterized by a form of 'togetherness' and 'co-management' of power. This no official power, however. For this reason we can call it 'natural contractual socialism' because it arises through a cultural link rather than as a result of binding regulations. Attention. 'Natural' does not mean irregular or unlawful. On the contrary it is a form of cultural coalition (and coming together of particular interests) that is perfectly admissable.

   Law is on the contrary a form of 'official contractual socialism'. And this precisely is the instrument enabling us to achieve order. The problem is that the degree of order needed is constantly rising. We need to overcome economic imbalances, ethnic conflicts, mass migrations, poverty, hunger. Which are are all elements of disorder. To solve these problems we need to rediscover again the methods through which laws arose: contractual socialism, in fact. Some people confuse laws with 'social contract' (which is a way saying 'contractual socialism'). Laws are really the product of social contract while 'contractual socialism' is its method: the source from which are derived order and affluence.

   As we have seen the degree of order required is constantly increasing. Therefore in order to improve this we now need the help of entrepreneurs. Only from them can we learn about the most authentic 'contractual socialism'. In fact multinational corporations are like 'multi-ethnic states', meaning corporate bodies where order has always reigned supreme (movement of goods, satisfaction of recipients, faithful buyers and many other forms of spontaneous economic order) without using any power of coercion. But just following the precepts - exactly - of contractual socialism.

   Countries should imitate companies. 'Copying their methods'. In practice we need to progress from an 'imposed' socialism to a form of contractual socialism And from compulsory solidarity (and right away) move on to an 'active solidarity'. Which is very similar to corporate functions. It is based on organizing and managing and bringing together various forces (assets, companies, similar bodies and persons) in such a way that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, seen singularly and separately. And this is a very close parallel to what a company obtains (by bringing together 'land, capital and labour').

   Someone may consider this scandalous, talking of economic intervention and state corporations. Or of a guided or drugged economy. In fact worldwide imbalances tell us we need to take action. The law itself is a form of state intervention. When we have accepted it obviously we think it is right to have some measure of state intervention. The problem is that the law should offer guidance without 'moulding' everything. And to do just this we need a new capacity to intervene with systems that differ from straight imposition. Because legislation has shown its impotence in solving many matters. And also because anything without protection tends to fade away. This is happening as regards to moral values in general. The lack of adequate regulations has created a form of decadence contributing to the appearance of widespread heresies: ranging from magicians to fortune tellers & satanic sects bringing their adherents even to commit mass suicide.

   Leaving our society without special action projects like contractual socialism, in respect of the values we need to maintain, means leaving everything to chance, to the consumer society and social disorders, such as poverty and the falling birthrate (as in Italy) which need to be fought through contractual socialism. Our non commercial bodies (like the authorities and government organizations) need to follow the methods of promotion like those in use by corporate bodies. So far we have thought of making society grow by recurring only to regulations, obligations and sanctions. But the job is unfinished. We have square kilometers of laws. Many of which are unknown or not applied. On the contrary the enormous problems that we need to face in the next century have a real need of some regulatory framework like what we have described as 'contractual socialism'. But the name means little. What we are concerned with is how to solve our basic problems . (a.n.)