Core Principles of Agrarianism

By Tim Gamble

   Between Shadows and Light.

My previous articles on Agrarianism:

• Biblical Agrarianism - A Way Forward? (article link)
• Embracing Biblical Agrarianism (article link)
• Biblical Agrarianism - Answering Your Questions (article link)

Agrarianism, as an economic concept, revolves around the central importance of agriculture in the social, political, and economic life of a society. Here's a detailed explanation:

Core Principles:

1. Agricultural Centrality -
   Farming and related fields should be at the heart of the economy, politics, and culture. Agrarianism emphasizes the significance of land ownership, food and resource production, and lifestyles closely tied to the land.
2. Self-Sufficiency -
   There is a strong focus on self-sufficiency, where individuals and communities strive to produce most of what they need for survival, reducing dependency on external sources for food and other resources.
3. Small-Scale Farming -
   There is a preference for small family farms over large industrial or corporate farming operations. The idea is that small farms are more sustainable, maintain local economies, and preserve cultural and environmental heritage.
4. Small-Scale Businesses - Likewise, there is a preference for small, locally-owned businesses over large national and multi-national corporations. The idea is that businesses are best owned by people living in the community that they serve, and are therefore directly impacted by and held accountable for their decisions and actions.  
5. Land Reform -
   Agrarianism institutes policies aimed at protecting private property rights, inheritance rights (enabling family-owned businesses and farms to be passed down through the generations), restricting foreign ownership of land (particularly farmland) as well as preventing the concentration of land in the hands of a few elites or large corporations (think Bill Gates buying up large chunks of farmland). .
6. Connection to Nature -
   Emphasizes a harmonious relationship with the natural environment, promoting clean water, clean air, and sustainable agricultural and timber practices, as well mas natural healthy foods (non-GMO, minimal artificial inputs, etc.), and maintaining ecological balance (think open spaces for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and other recreational uses).
7. Community and Social Values -
   Agrarianism values community, family, and local governance. The idea is that the smaller and more local something is, the better it is, generally speaking. It promotes a society where social bonds are strong, and where economic activities strengthen family and community ties rather than erode them.

Implications:

It is my supposition that Agrarianism will naturally lead to:

• A more egalitarian economic system where wealth isn't concentrated in massive corporations or by wealthy elites.
• More vibrant and resilient local economies less dependent on international trade for basic needs.
• More sustainable agricultural, economic, and environmental systems.
• Healthier foods and lifestyles for people, improving lives while reducing medical costs.
• Preservation of family, local, regional, and cultural identities often lost in more industrialized, globalized economies.
• Smaller, less expensive and less authoritarian government.
• More personal freedom and economic opportunity.
• Much less control by the Elites over "We the People."

I have been and will continue to pound home this thought: The only real path forward to our multitude of problems is a return to the old paths of self-reliance and local economies built around agrarian communities.

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