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democratic-self-rule

The principle that democracy and individual autonomy should extend into the workplace, ensuring workers have control over their labor and economic decisions.

1 chapter across 1 book

Blue Mars (1997)Kim Stanley Robinson

Chapter 20

In this chapter, Vlad Taneev confronts Antar's defense of traditional capitalist economics, arguing for a democratic, worker-owned cooperative economic system developed on Mars that integrates principles of self-rule and justice into the workplace. Vlad critiques capitalism as a form of feudalism that denies workers control over their labor and capital, and advocates for a mixed economy that balances market mechanisms with social rights and ecological stewardship. The discussion highlights tensions between old economic paradigms and the emerging eco-economic system designed to make longevity treatment and basic needs universally accessible.