Image of Collectivism

Collectivism

Topic

An economic and political theory criticized by Javier Milei at Davos. He argues it inexorably leads to socialism and poverty, and that Western elites have been co-opted by this vision.


First Mentioned

1/5/2026, 5:13:59 AM

Last Updated

1/5/2026, 5:14:27 AM

Research Retrieved

1/5/2026, 5:14:27 AM

Summary

Collectivism is a social and political framework where the interests of the collective—such as a state, nation, or social class—are prioritized over the rights and goals of the individual. In a sociological context, it involves patterns of interaction like affiliation and the use of collective resources to build social units like families and enterprises. Historically, the concept was shaped by philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and G.W.F. Hegel and has been expressed through various 20th-century political movements, including socialism and communism. In contemporary discourse, collectivism has become a focal point of criticism by proponents of free-market capitalism, most notably in a 2024 viral speech by Argentine President Javier Milei at the World Economic Forum, where he framed it as a systemic failure in opposition to individual liberty and economic competition.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Key Values

    Interdependence, group solidarity, collaboration, and conformity

  • Core Principle

    Subordination of the individual to the social collectivity

  • Opposite Ideology

    Individualism

  • Sociological Units

    Families, enterprises, clubs, and states

  • Associated Political Systems

    Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Social Democracy

Timeline
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes 'Du contrat social' (The Social Contract), arguing for submission to the 'general will'. (Source: Britannica)

    1762-01-01

  • G.W.F. Hegel argues that the individual realizes true freedom only in submission to the nation-state. (Source: Britannica)

    1800-01-01

  • Collectivism finds expression in 20th-century political movements including socialism, communism, and fascism. (Source: Britannica)

    1900-01-01

  • Argentine President Javier Milei delivers a viral speech at the World Economic Forum denouncing collectivism and socialism. (Source: All-In Podcast E162)

    2024-01-17

Social organization

In sociology, a social organization is a pattern of relationships between and among individuals and groups. Characteristics of social organization can include qualities such as sexual composition, spatiotemporal cohesion, leadership, structure, division of labor, communication systems, and so on. Because of these characteristics of social organization, people can monitor their everyday work and involvement in other activities that are controlled forms of human interaction. These interactions include: affiliation, collective resources, substitutability of individuals and recorded control. These interactions come together to constitute common features in basic social units such as family, enterprises, clubs, states, etc. These are social organizations. Common examples of modern social organizations are government agencies, NGOs, and corporations.

Web Search Results
  • Collectivism - The Decision Lab

    Collectivism is a worldview where people tend to see themselves as part of a larger group rather than focus on their individuality. As a result, they value behavior that emphasizes unity. Individual goals and needs are subsided for the good of the greater whole, as they are seen to matter less than the objectives of a group.

  • Collectivism - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

    Collectivism — so closely related to the word collection — has to do with political theories that put the group before the individual. In a collectivist system, power should be in the hands of the people as a whole, not in the hands of a few powerful folks. Collectivism is the opposite of individualism. Ideally, in a collectivist society, decisions benefit all the people. This is a difficult idea to put into practice, as seen in the attempted collectivist society of Soviet communism. [...] Definitions of collectivism 1. noun a political theory that the people should own the means of production see moresee less type of: ideology, political orientation, political theory an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation 2. noun Soviet communism synonyms: Bolshevism, sovietism see moresee less types: revisionism a moderate evolutionary form of Marxism revisionism [...] SKIP TO CONTENT IPA guide Other forms: collectivisms Collectivism is a political theory associated with communism. More broadly, it is the idea that people should prioritize the good of society over the welfare of the individual.

  • Collectivism - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

    Collectivism is characterized by a focus on shared objectives, interchangeable interests, and commonalities among in-group members (Triandis, 1995). Even though collectivism has been examined primarily at the national culture level (e.g., Shteynberg, Gelfand, & Kim, 2009), it transcends levels of analysis and is relevant to organizations and groups as well (e.g., Brewer & Chen, 2007; Hofstede & Hofstede, 2001). Recent research suggests that collectivism at the group or organizational level can [...] first. Collectivism refers to a worldview in which social behavior is guided largely by goals that are shared by a collective, such as a family, tribe, work group, or political or religious association. Interdependence and group solidarity are valued. The in-group creates norms, goals, and beliefs that are enculturated and endorsed by its members. When conflicts arise between group goals and personal goals, a person is expected to act in the best interest of the group. [...] Collectivism is the aspect of human culture that sensitizes people to connect with others, valuing connection and finding ways to “fit in” with others . One who possesses a strong collective tendency may be especially likely to express belief in bullshit claims as it may serve to connect with others. Similar to using bullshit to connect with others and a need to belong , the more collectivistic people are the more likely they are to report beliefs in bullshit-based astrology, fortune-telling,

  • Understanding Collectivist Cultures: Overview & Examples

    Collectivism is the tendency, on the individual and societal level, to view oneself as interdependent and a member of a group rather than as an independent being. In collectivist cultures, people feel as if they belong to larger in-groups or collectives that care for them in exchange for loyalty (Hofstede & Bond, 1984). As a result, collectivist cultures value collaboration, communalism, constructive interdependence, and conformity to roles and norms. [...] Conversely, economic recession correlated with increased collectivism (Bianchi 2016). Historically, collectivistic communities have been agrarian, where those in, for example, a village hold interdependent roles in a common farm. Philosophies, such as Confuscism, have a heavy hold on contemporary Asian collectivism. Women tend to be more collectivistic on average than men (Zeffane 2017). Collectivism can sometimes manifest in very-involved child-rearing. [...] The core of collectivism is the idea that groups bind together and mutually obligate individuals (Kemmelmeier 2002). As such, collectivists value security, good social relationships, harmony within ingroups, and personalized relationships. (Triandis, McCusker, and Hui, 1990), and collectivistic societies rely on mutual obligations based on status (Schwartz 1994).

  • Collectivism | Group Dynamics, Social Structure, Ideology

    collectivism, any of several types of social organization in which the individual is seen as being subordinate to a social collectivity such as a state, a nation, a race, or a social class. Collectivism may be contrasted with individualism (q.v.), in which the rights and interests of the individual are emphasized. [...] Collectivism has found varying degrees of expression in the 20th century in such movements as socialism, communism, and fascism. The least collectivist of these is social democracy, which seeks to reduce the inequities of unrestrained capitalism by government regulation, redistribution of income, and varying degrees of planning and public ownership. In communist systems collectivism is carried to its furthest extreme, with a minimum of private ownership and a maximum of planned economy. [...] The earliest modern, influential expression of collectivist ideas in the West is in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Du contrat social, of 1762 (see social contract), in which it is argued that the individual finds his true being and freedom only in submission to the “general will” of the community. In the early 19th century the German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel argued that the individual realizes his true being and freedom only in unqualified submission to the laws and institutions of the nation-state,