"The historical experience of socialist countries has sadly demonstrated that collectivism does not do away with alienation but rather increases it, adding to it a lack of basic necessities and economic inefficiency"
- Pope John Paul II
About this Quote
Pope John Paul II's quote is a reflection on the historical experience of socialist countries. He argues that collectivism, which is a system of social company based on cumulative ownership of the methods of production, does not do away with alienation, but rather increases it. This alienation is more compounded by an absence of standard requirements and economic inadequacy. This recommends that collectivism is not a reliable system for attending to the needs of individuals. The Pope's quote is a caution versus collectivism, and a pointer that it is not a feasible solution for creating a much better society. It is a reminder that economic and social systems should be developed to fulfill the needs of individuals, not to serve the interests of the few.
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