What Mondragon Can Teach the World
Georgia Kelly discusses the philosophy and workings of the Mondragon Cooperatives in the Basque region of Spain
THE SEARCH FOR a better way to live will go on as long as unsatisfactory ways like ours are the norm, aka mainstream. Therefore all experiments in alternative communities, economies, even cultures are interesting, especially those that succeed. Like the Mondragón communes in the Basque region of northern Spain. In a well-defined geography with a language all their own 𑁋 Basque is one of only five languages in present-day Europe not related to any other; what we call a ‘language isolate.’ However much the size and distinctness of the region are responsible for or at least facilitate its cooperative spirit, the people and their culture have much to teach us.
Our friend Georgia Kelly has been an ardent student and friend of this fascinating place for many years, taking tour groups there almost annually (Their next Mondragon seminar is scheduled for May 11 - 18, 2025.) She is, like us here at Metta, interested in all aspects of the ‘experiment’ of Father José Maria Arizmendiarrieta, remarkable because of its size, longevity (how many communes have lasted more than a few decades?), and thorough reorganization, or rather alternative organization of economy, politics, and 𑁋 yes 𑁋 conflict management. And, as mentioned, its success. All in all, a fascinating human experiment.
Michael Nagler
Transcript archived at Waging Nonviolence
