Agrarianism and Distributism as an alternative to Socialism and Crony Capitalism

Our modern era is dominated by crony capitalism, where massive corporations and political insiders concentrate wealth and power, and socialism which centralizes control in the state, many people are searching for a genuine alternative. Two intertwined philosophies offer a compelling third path: agrarianism and distributism.

Agrarianism celebrates the virtues of rural life, small-scale farming, and the deep connection between people and the land. It views the family farm as the foundation of a stable, independent society, fostering self-reliance, community, and stewardship of the earth—qualities that large-scale industrial agriculture often erodes.

Distributism takes agrarianism further as an economic vision for widespread ownership of productive property. Rather than allowing wealth to concentrate in the hands of a few capitalists or bureaucrats, distributism promotes broad distribution of land, tools, and small businesses. It emphasizes subsidiarity, the principle that decisions and economic activity should occur at the most local level possible, and the dignity of family-centered work, especially through husbandry of small farms and independent enterprises.

Modern distributist thinkers frequently emphasize that distributism is not limited to agrarianism. It applies to cities and modern economies too, supporting small shops, tradespeople, cooperatives, family businesses, and distributed ownership in manufacturing, services, or technology. Not everyone needs to be a farmer for distributism to work; a distributist society would still include urban artisans, shopkeepers, professionals, and even some larger cooperative enterprise.

Both these philosophies reject the wage-slavery of unchecked capitalism and the state-dominated collectivism of socialism, instead envisioning a society of free, property-owning families rooted in local communities.

To begin exploring these bucolic alternative social systems, we recommend starting with these works:

• Hilaire Belloc’s The Servile State (1912). A prophetic critique showing how modern capitalism inevitably leads toward a new form of servitude, while pointing to widespread property ownership as the true remedy.
• G.K. Chesterton’s writings on distributism (often collected as The Third Way or in works like The Outline of Sanity). Witty, insightful essays that make the case for a “third way” between capitalism and socialism, with a focus on small-scale ownership and human dignity.
• Victor Davis Hanson’s The Land Was Everything. A poignant modern reflection on the decline of the American family farm, drawing from classical traditions to defend agrarian values and the cultural importance of independent farmers.

These books are accessible, profound, and remarkably relevant. Visit our Books collection to acquire copies; read them and you’ll gain a clearer vision of an economy that prioritizes freedom, family, and the land over corporate giants or government overreach.

If you’re ready for something truly transformative, these texts are an excellent place to start.