Copyright 2016 by E.G. Nadeau and Luc Nadeau
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form whatsoever, by any means, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the authors.
Published by E.G. Nadeau and Luc Nadeau
gmail.com
www.thecooperativesociety.org
158 Kensington Drive
Madison, WI 53704
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nadeau, E.G., and Nadeau, Luc
The Cooperative Society:
The next stage of human history /
E.G. Nadeau and Luc Nadeau
1. Economic history and conditions
2. Social history and conditions
3. Social problems
4. Social reform
ISBN 978-0-9980662-0-2
Printed in the United States of America
First edition
The cover design by Luc Nadeau is a symbolic depiction of the history of Homo sapiens.
Design by Smiling Dog Design
Contents
Introduction
Humans have always cooperated in order to survive survive despite competition and conflict in our relationships with one another, with other species and with our physical environment. Just look at the bloody trail of wars, violence and oppression that have characterized our relationships with one another throughout recorded history.
However, we may be on the verge of moving beyond our conflict-filled past toward a society in which cooperation is the predominant way we relate to one another and to our planet. Why? It could be that humans no longer feel compelled to fight over scarce resources, because we now have the means, organizational skills and technology to meet everyones basic needs.
In this book, we present the hypothesis that humans may be on the threshold of a new historical stage, one characterized by cooperation, democracy, the equitable distribution of resources and a sustainable relationship with nature.
The Cooperative Society is organized in three parts: a description of the hypothesis; a test of the hypothesis based on measurement of seven broad variables; and a set of observations and recommendations for how we can increase the likelihood of moving toward a more cooperative society during the next several decades.
We consider this book a pilot for articulating and measuring what may be a major transition in human history. Much more research and analysis must be done to thoroughly examine whether this is indeed taking place.
We also believe that a cooperative transition would be a momentous, positive step forward for our species. At the same time, we have attempted to objectively report and analyze the data for and against this transition, playing the role of both scientific observers and advocates.
The Cooperative Society is a call to action, not simply the preliminary testing of a hypothesis. We, as humans, have the ability to shape our society. Our purpose for writing this book is to motivate and assist readers in restructuring our economic, political and social behavior and institutions in ways that are better for humanity and for our planet.
E.G. Nadeau, Ph.D., and Luc Nadeau, M.S.
September 2016
Chapter 1
Hypothesis
The cooperative society
The cooperative society is a potential new stage of human history, characterized by economic and political democracy, cooperative international relations and a symbiotic relationship with nature. The cooperative society would replace our current stage of history, which is characterized by a small number of large, for-profit corporations that dominate the world economy; a mix of authoritarian and democratic governments; a low quality of life for many of us; a high level of conflict-based interaction within and among nations; and a destructive relationship with the environment.
We already may have begun the transition to the cooperative society in the latter half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st.
If such a transition is occurring:
- This emerging society would be a major paradigm shift, on a scale that has occurred only a few times since we evolved as a species over 200,000 years ago.
- For the first time in over 5,000 years, we would have a society that is not dominated by religious, military, political and/or economic elites.
- Our society would be based on cooperation and democracy rather than conflict, control by the few and extreme inequality.
The Cooperative Society examines the premise that humans are at the threshold of such a momentous historical change, making possible the realization of our most broadly and deeply held social values.
The book sketches the major stages of human history to date; outlines the key characteristics of how a cooperative society would differ from these prior stages; defines, tests and scores seven measures related to the cooperative transition; and recommends ways for us to make this transition.
In the future, this pilot exercise to define and measure movement toward or away from the cooperative society will need to be followed by more detailed, systematic and periodic research in order to rigorously measure changes over time. The ultimate goal is to set the stage for an ongoing measurement process and to present a set of recommendations to help us make the cooperative transition a reality.
Stages of human history
There are many ways to characterize the history of Homo sapiens technology (Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, etc.); social organization (migratory bands, villages, cities, etc.); economic activities; or a combination of traits.
From the perspective of economic activities, the major stages of human history can be classified as: hunting and gathering, simple agriculture and an age of increasingly complex and diversified economic activity.
Our hunting and gathering past is by far the longest period in our history, estimated by many scientists at more than 200,000 years. Through both archaeology and by examining the behavior of isolated groups of hunter-gatherers and other primates today, we can conclude that these ancestors lived in relatively small groups usually 30 to 100 people; they were fairly egalitarian in social behavior and distribution of resources; they had mixed levels of conflict; and their relationship with nature was primarily symbiotic.
Simple agriculture began in a number of locations between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago. Some scientists conclude that the primary reason for the emergence of agriculture was increasing population density and the concurrent limitations on a hunting and gathering lifestyle. Farming permitted higher concentrations of people, required a less- nomadic way of life and led to the establishment of permanent or semi-permanent villages.
With more humans living close to one another, many scientists believe that society became more hierarchical, although not dramatically so. Because of fixed villages, the potential for conflict with other agricultural groups and nomadic bands also increased. The small number of humans and the limited scale of agricultural production meant that negative impacts on the environment were minor.
The age of increasingly diversified economic activity can be roughly estimated as beginning about 5,000 years ago with the emergence of larger concentrations of people in and around cities. As agricultural techniques improved, farmers produced greater surpluses that could support more non-farming activities. This allowed some members of society to specialize in other types of work or become political, economic and/or religious elites. Also with increasing concentrations of people in and near cities, the potential for conflict increased both within these urban-based settings and between them and other city-states and nomadic groups.
