Mutualism (philosophy)

[Kidblop]

I've been looking recently into the philosophy known as mutualism as told by Mr. Proudhon. It looks fairly interesting, but I'm not sure if it qualifies as anarcho-capitalism or anarcho-socialism?

[GeneCosta]

Mutualism is a variant of socialism, yes.

Without the overarching capitalist state and its extension of benefits to capitalists (government subsidies, cheap capital), mutualists believe the market will naturally produce socialism in the form of mutual aid societies, neighborhood assemblies, land trusts, co-ops, tenant's unions, independent labor unions, neighborhood watch and cop-watch, alternative media, community gardens, LETS systems, barter networks, mutual banks, and open-source information. I actually think there's a lot of truth to this. There could also be a communist element thrown in the mix which would allow for firms that operate almost exclusively outside of the price system.

A minarchist alternative to mutualism, in my opinion, seems like the most likely system to survive popular opinion within the United States and West Europe. I could actually see with some nail-biting progression following in the order of capitalism - > quasi-mutualism - > communism.