“A revolt from the center must strike both at forms of production governed by profit and at bureaucratic forms of government since both are incompatible with democracy.” @18
“Economic freedom is by no means a foundation for political democracy, but on the contrary, an obstacle to it. The question of social control of production is therefore urgent especially as increased competition between the big companies for smaller profits is making them more and more dependent on the state.” @20
The authors subscribe to E F Schumacher’s view that private property is acceptable on a small scale, unnecessary on a medium scale, and fiction in large scale. @40
Their basic principles are
1) each individual’s right to choose
2) each individual’s right to participate in decisions
3) small units and self determination
4) leaders elected, not prescribed by inheritance, wealth or economic privilege
5) the earth and resources should be common property. @115
Oprør Fra Midten)(Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 1987) In English as Revolt from the Center (Salem NH: Marion Boyars, 1981)
Table of Contents
I. Background
Surplus or subsistence society – fatal contradictions – faith in development and the crisis of faith revolt of Left or Right – or Center? The economic ideologies – critique of liberalism – ideological cramps – critique of Marxism-Leninism revisionism – need for democratic ideology .
II. Basis for Change
There is a limit – more people, more poor – medical science and sick society – destructive or constructive technique – the economy is not economical economic freedom, equality, and ownership – the big companies and the technostructure – internationalising of the economy – international restrictions on Denmark’s freedom of action – the national economy – organization – party system and representative democracy – centralization or decentralization, bureaucracy or grassroots democracy – educational system.
III. Basic Principles
People are not just a product of society – interest-determined perception of people – people are also biological beings – morals, the original means of guidance – economy or morality – sexual/gender mores – work morality – equality and differences – forms of aggression -prevention of aggression – freedom and leadership – tradition or renewal – the individual and the group – natural rights – rational and irrational – science and art – conclusion.
IV. Goal
Prospects for the balanced society – the Danish county in the 21st Century – production in a typical town – relation between education and production -industrial competitiveness – living arrangements – decentralized law making – politics at the community level – politics on the national level – Denmark’s political security – Denmark in the international area -dialog with a skeptic.
V. Means to the End
From here to the balanced society – means toward economic leveling – income leveling in the private sector – economic imbalance from inheritance must be ended – development of the production structure – how to start development of the new production structure – who will participate in the experiment? – comments on capital mobility – experiments in new living arrangements – preparations for active grassroots democracy – political information on the national level – general law revision – employment problems – education for the balanced society – experts and the evaluation of technology – environmental problems – utilization of limited raw materials – Denmark in the international arena – a new economic world order – Denmark and political security – Revolt from the Center.