Only Incidental
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Jesus of Nazareth
“Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakes.”
Carl Jung
This is a subject that I do not know very much about: Economics. However, I do know about poverty and the struggle vis-a-vis this subject: Economics. I have heard people talk with passion on this subject. I have witnessed the sorrow and disillusionment and feelings of utter depletion with regards to this subject. Methods of oppression, this subject. It seems like the conversation of this subject is most relevant to another one that seems so distant and real only for its noise and social impact: Politics.
Karl Polanyi, born in Hungary, was a twentieth century forerunner of market economics and founder of substantive economics (the ways by which society provides for itself). He was concerned for the future of our global market and perceived a developing dynamic he identified as a “double movement”; the subordination of a self-regulating market and its damaging effects ‘will inevitably lead society to protect itself against depredation’ [1]. Thus, further depth to our societal (global) democratization will ensue. As far as there continues to be growth and development in this market system of our global economy, one that has emerged from a self-regulated system to that unconscious, unregulated markets based on uncompromised gain there will be counter-movements, markets created to protect humanity from their thoroughly damaging effects [2]. Wonderfully, this trend is not sustainable.
Polanyi writes that ‘in spite of the chorus of academic incantations so persistent in the nineteenth century, gain and profit made on exchange never before played an important part in human economy.’ [3]. It’s this motive of gain set in motion that Polanyi describes as ‘comparable in effectiveness only to the most violent outbursts of religious fervour in history.’ [3]. We have all been influenced by this progressively more powerful and controlling entity. What has the result been? I’m beginning to see more clearly the difference between what the political painting of this picture for the maintenance of the current system (ie. power and control) and, what the truth is.
Polanyi affirms that ‘the differences between “civilized” and “uncivilized” peoples have been vastly exaggerated, especially in the economic sphere.’ [3]. He goes on to portray that ‘historical and anthropological research is that man’s economy, as a rule, is submerged in his social relationships.’ [3]. Focus was her connection with the community and what she had to offer as well as what the community had to offer her all worked together to form a desired quality of life together. Status quo looks and acts differently; accumulating wealth and individual success is not the focus. Simply, to safeguard one’s own social position was the strategic plan, along with sweet survival and place in communal celebration.
Everyone has a place. The problem is, we are lost.
In order to survive now, by our current system of economy, who are we willing to serve and how are we willing to compromise? The common response is to succumb to the trend of individualism in order ‘to get by’ and ‘to make ends meet’. The money is in the unregulated marketplace. Success by current standards is found there as well. How are we willing to devote our hearts and minds? There doesn’t seem to be an option and thoughts of liberation from this oppression, this slavery may arouse some fear. To what influence are we ready to commit our lives? Commonly, homage is given to leadership and support transacted, in every workplace. We are not individuals; we need one another whether we like it or not. We strive to keep alive and keep pressing on at all cost and we ignore the horrid cost. What if our decisions to these questions really mattered not only to us but, to everyone, the whole of our global community? We are losing ourselves and yet, we keep giving. Songs are sung about this. Books are written about this. We see the world breaking around us. We feel our souls dying and yet, we keep giving.
We are disconnected. We will never be able to find ourselves, true reason for being and life together in this economy. It will all be façade. We will only find what else we are seduced in to think we need without realizing that we are being distracted and kept consumed, consuming. Wendell Berry writes in his book Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community, ‘There is a kind of economy that exists to protect the “right” of profit, as does our present public economy; this present public economy; this sort of economy will inevitably gravitate toward the protection of the “rights” of those who profit most.’ [4]. He refers to this kind of economy as the one we are presently controlled by, a ‘public economy (that) is really a political system that safeguards the private exploitation of the public wealth and health.’ [4]. There is another kind of economy, of community, that existed to the preservation and ‘protection of gifts’, an economy that he determines has been destroyed by the public economy [4]. There’s a grave delineation between these two expressions of economy as far as our community and social life portray. There’s a delineation and disconnectedness in our culture now between ones perceived as ‘having’ and those who are determined and lorded over (politically speaking) as ‘not having’. This system has divided us, both our togetherness in community and further, the integrity of every person in their relentless pursuit of gain within it, from their very souls. The integrity and health of our community is interconnected with (or, determines) our integrity and health as individuals.
There is an impact both for our actions and for our ignorance. Unintended negative impact can be the response of some or only incidental impacts by others. Our choices and our actions matter, as does who or what we choose to follow that is, in relation to the way in which we desire to live our lives. Karl Polanyi, Christian Sociologist (amongst many other things) delivers an engaging, timeless literary offering, a book that not only opens the subject matter of the economy to its subject but also, the book holds up a mirror to the world. ‘Only incidental’ [4] was the nature of the market before it gained absolute, seemingly irreversible control of the current economy. May it find its place as only incidental once again, as incidental has been the outflow of its atrocities in our world.
[1] Luban, Daniel. “The Elusive Karl Polanyi.” Accessed January 24, 2020. https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/elusive-karl-polanyi-great-transformation-gareth-dale-biography
[2] Zaman, Asad. “Summary of the Great Transformation by Polanyi.” Accessed January 24, 2020. https://weapedagogy.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/summary-of-the-great-transformation-by-polanyi/
[3] Polanyi, Karl. The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2001.
[4] Berry, Wendell. Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community: Eight Essays. New York: Pantheon Books, 1994.
About the Author
Chris Pollock
Dad of Molly Polly Pastor at the Mustard Seed Street Church Trail Runner4 responses to “Only Incidental”
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Great idea to bring Wendell Berry in as a foil for the week! He is a great example of someone living humbly and counter-cultural to move away from the exploitation of land, labor and money. Have you read any of his fiction? Jaybe Crow’s personification of capitalism in Troy Chatham is a potent way to communicate the dangers of what Polanyi describes.
“He goes on to portray that ‘historical and anthropological research is that man’s economy, as a rule, is submerged in his social relationships.”
Isn’t it interesting that matters of life-giving or those that are life-taking come down to relationships?
An economic development program lead by some well meaning people (I presume) in our area completely disregarded the history and voices of those most affected by the ensuing decisions regarding development. Those whose voices are not considered to have valuable contributions yet are squelched because their voices do not fit into a certain narrative. So much can be said about economic and political bullies. Sad.
The intersection and interconnectedness of economics, politics, religion, and culture is fascinating. To what extent are we just playing a game or being played?
“Everyone has a place. The problem is, we are lost.”
As Christians, how do we find our way Home? I love John’s question above. How has our zeal or complacency contributed to moving us into the intersection of economics, politics, religion, and culture? Is it necessary for us to be there, to be light in darkness? Or are we called to something else?