LYDEAL L. MAGTIBAY DR.

RAMIR LARINO
MMPA-2A

COMMUNITARIANISM

Is a socio-political ideology that values the needs or “common good” of society

over the needs and rights of individuals.

The Basic Theory of Communitarianism

According to philosopher John Rawls

Justice in the context of any community is based exclusively on the inviolable natural

rights of each individual, stating that “each person possesses an inviolability founded on

justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.” In other words,

according to Rawlsian theory, a truly just society cannot exist when the well-being of the

community comes at the cost of individual rights.

Communitarianism emphasizes each individual’s responsibility in serving the “common

good” of the community and the social importance of the family unit.

Communitarians believe that community relationships and contributions to the common

good, more so than individual rights, determine each person’s social identity and sense of

place within the community. In essence, communitarians oppose extreme forms of

individualism and unregulated capitalistic laissez-faire “buyer beware” policies that may

not contribute to—or may even threaten—the common good of the community.

The best example of Communitarianism actions in our city are annually conducting

SILAKBO (SIkad, LAkad, takBO) where it aims to protect and safeguard the Silang –

Sta. Rosa Sub-Watershed where everyone is encouraged and welcome to join in this

program. Another is conducting Coastal Clean-up in Brgy. Aplaya thru the initiative of

City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) with the help of Philippine Coast
Guard, Dep-Ed youth Formation, and residents of Brgy. Aplaya where it aims to

maintain the coastline area and to teach the community of the importance and value of

having a clean environment.

Differing Approaches

Filling niches along the American political spectrum ranging from libertarian capitalism

to pure socialism, two predominant approaches to communitarianism have attempted to

define the role of the federal government in the daily lives of the people.

Authoritarian Communitarianism

Arising in the early 1980s, authoritarian communitarians advocated for giving the need to

benefit the common good of the community priority over the need to ensure the

autonomy and individual rights of the people. In other words, if it were deemed necessary

for the people to cede certain individual rights or freedoms to benefit the society as a

whole, they should be willing, even anxious, to do so.

In many ways, the doctrine of authoritarian communitarianism reflected the social

practices of East Asian authoritarian societies such as China, Singapore, and Malaysia, in

which individuals were expected to find their ultimate meaning in life through their

contributions to the common good of the society.

Responsive Communitarianism

Developed in 1990 by Amitai Etzioni, responsive communitarianism seeks to strike a

more carefully-crafted balance between individual rights and social responsibilities to the

common good of the society than authoritarian communitarianism. In this manner,

responsive communitarianism stresses that individual freedoms come with individual

responsibilities and that neither should be neglected to accommodate the other.

The modern responsive communitarian doctrine holds that individual liberties can be

preserved only through the protection of a civil society in which individuals respect and

protect their rights as well as the rights of others. In general, responsive communitarians

stress the need for individuals to develop and practice the skills of self-government while

remaining willing to serve the common good of the society when needed.

DECENTERED THEORY OF GOVERNANCE

Decentered theory of governance is a framework that challenges traditional, hierarchical

models of governance by emphasizing the distribution of power and decision-making

across multiple actors, levels, and networks. It suggests that governance processes are not

solely centralized within formal institutions like governments, but rather are dispersed

among various stakeholders including non-governmental organizations (NGOs),

community groups, businesses, and individuals.

**A decentered theory of governance encourages us to treat governance as an

opportunity to redefine democracy.

PRIVILEGES OF RESIDENTS OF CITY OF SANTA ROSA, LAGUNA

HEALTH: Operation Timbang to prevent malnutrition among children, Three (3) times

weekly supplementary feeding program, Regular dental checkup for children and elderly

Free medicines and consultation in the barangay health centers, Modernize Community

Hospital, creating Botika ni Lolo at Lola.

EDUCATION: Scholarship Grants to deserving students in private high school, LGU

Sta. Rosa constructed laboratories, home economics room, industrial arts room and
computer rooms, free bags and school supplies are distributed to elementary students

annually, distribution of free books to students. Free skills training at Santa Rosa

Manpower Training Center.

RESPONSE TO CALAMITIES: Established a Disaster Operations Center, established

an Emergency Response Team that underwent a Water Search and Rescue Training,

Established Barangay Disaster Brigade in the 18 barangays that underwent Contingency

Planning Training, established a Disaster Coordinating and Rescue Unit in every

barangay composed of 1 team leader, 3 telephone operators, 6 first aiders, 3 rescue van

drivers at 3 volunteer workers.

LIVELIHOOD: Regular Livelihood training for women, cooperative seminar and

trainings Assistance to person with disabilities, financial assistance to indigent families.

Key aspects of decentered theory of governance include:

Decentralisation: This refers to the dispersal of authority and decision-making from

central governments to sub-national levels or non-state actors. Decentralization

can enhance participation, responsiveness, and efficiency in governance processes

by bringing decision-making closer to the people affected by those decisions.

Multilevel Governance: Governance occurs not only at the national level but also at

sub-national, regional, and global levels. Different levels of government, along

with non-state actors, interact and collaborate to address complex issues that

transcend national boundaries, such as climate change, migration, and trade.

Networked Governance: Traditional hierarchical structures are supplemented, or

sometimes replaced, by networked forms of governance where diverse

 stakeholders collaborate horizontally rather than vertically. These networks can

be formal or informal, temporary or permanent, and allow for more flexible and

inclusive decision-making processes.

Participatory Governance: Decentered governance emphasizes the importance of

involving citizens and stakeholders in decision-making processes. Participation

can take various forms, including consultation, deliberation, co-production, and

citizen-led initiatives. By involving those affected by policies, governance

becomes more responsive, accountable, and legitimate.

Policy Polycentricity: Governance systems are characterized by the presence of

multiple centers of authority and decision-making. Policy decisions may emerge

from interactions among various actors operating within different institutional

settings, rather than being dictated by a single centralized authority.

LIBERTARIAN SOCIALISM

Libertarian socialism, sometimes referred to as anarchism or left-libertarianism, is

a political philosophy that combines elements of libertarianism with socialist principles.

In the context of governance, libertarian socialism advocates for decentralized, non-

hierarchical forms of organization where power and decision-making are distributed

among communities and individuals rather than being centralized in the state or other

hierarchical structures.

Decentralization of Power: Libertarian socialism opposes centralized state power and

advocates for the dispersal of power to local communities, voluntary associations, and
worker cooperatives. Instead of a top-down approach to governance, decision-making

authority is devolved to the smallest possible units, allowing for direct participation and

autonomy.

Horizontal Organization: In libertarian socialist governance, organizations are

structured horizontally rather than vertically. This means that decision-making

processes are participatory and consensus-based, with an emphasis on equality and non-

coercive relationships among members. Direct democracy, where individuals have a

direct say in decision-making, is often favored over representative democracy.

Worker Control of Production: One of the central tenets of libertarian socialism is the

idea of workers' self-management and control of the means of production. This can take

the form of worker cooperatives, where workers collectively own and manage their

workplaces, or syndicalist organizations, which advocate for industrial democracy and

direct worker control within industries.

Voluntary Cooperation: Libertarian socialism values voluntary cooperation and

association over coercion. Instead of relying on the state to regulate economic and

social affairs, individuals and communities engage in voluntary exchanges and

collaborations based on mutual aid and solidarity.

Social Justice and Equality: Libertarian socialism emphasizes social justice and

equality as core principles. It seeks to address inequalities of power, wealth, and

opportunity by dismantling hierarchies and creating a more equitable distribution of

resources and decision-making authority. This includes challenging systems of

oppression such as capitalism, patriarchy, racism, and imperialism.

Anti-Authoritarianism: Libertarian socialism is fundamentally anti-authoritarian,

opposing all forms of unjustified authority and coercion. While recognizing the need for
coordination and cooperation, it rejects hierarchical structures that concentrate power in

the hands of a few at the expense of the many.

Localism and Communalism: Libertarian socialism often promotes local self-

sufficiency and community-based initiatives as alternatives to centralized state control.

Concepts such as communal ownership of land and resources, decentralized planning,

and mutual aid networks are central to this vision of governance.