Interrelationism

Viewing the world in terms of relations between socially-embedded but also self-directing individuals, rather than of atomised individuals or inescapable collective structures.


IndividualismInterrelationismCollectivism
The individual human being is considered to possess supreme and intrinsic value or dignity.Individual human beings are considered to possess value or dignity in their relations with other human beings.The collective is considered to possess supreme and intrinsic value or dignity.
The individual is autonomous; they’re self-directed.lndividuals are self-directed, though influenced by others.The individual is subject to the totality of social forces : they’re directed by the collective.
The individual ought to be left a private sphere of thought and/or action immune from the incursions of others or a wider ‘public’.The individual ought to think and act, not only with regard to themselves, but also with others in mind.The individual ought to think and act solely with the collective in mind. The thoughts and actions of the collective are of ultimate value.
The individual can and ought to experience self-development and can do so alone.Individuals can and ought to develop together, and not at each other’s expense.The collective ought to experience self-development, irrespective of individual members.
The individual is pictured as possessing interests, wants, purposes and needs, etc., independently of any social context.The individual’s interests, wants, purposes and needs, etc., are affected by their relations with others and so cannot be abstracted from those relations.The individual’s interests, wants, purposes and needs, etc. are the result of their relation to the collective and so cannot be abstracted from it.
Only the individual can be the source of political authority.Only the relations between individuals can be the source of political authority.Only the collective can be the source of political authority.
The individual should produce in order to satisfy their desires in their own way without regard for others.The individual should produce in a way which takes into consideration not only their own desires but also those of others.The individual should produce in order to satisfy the desire of the collective and in accordance with a plan which has been dictated by the collective.
The individual is responsible for their own destiny.Individuals are responsible for both their own and others’ destinies.The collective is responsible for everyone’s destiny.
The source of moral principles is the individual.The source of moral principles is interpersonal relations.The source of moral principles is the collective.
The individual is the only source and depository of knowledge.Related individuals are the source of knowledge, and it is dispersed.The collective is the only source and depository of knowledge.
The individual is the basis of all explanations of social phenomena.Related individuals are the basis of all explanations of social phenomena.The collective, with its own laws, is the basis of all explanations of social phenomena.
Only individuals really exist.Individuals exist in relations with others.Only collectives really exist.

Alan Carter – On Individualism, Collectivism and Interrelationism (1990)