Preface
Chartist is not only part of the democratic socialist tradition: it is part of a
libertarian tradition. In contrast with the anarchist tradition, we do see a role for the
state and for forms of representative government, but we also recognize that the power of
the state should be limited and the liberties of individuals protected so far as they do
not conflict with the liberties of others. In advocating collective rather than
individualist approaches to society, we advocate grass roots approaches to collectivism
rather than imposed uniformity and levelling. In recognizing the role of the state in
enabling the achievement of both equality of opportunity and greater equality of both
wealth and income, we recognize that representative democracy has to operate at a number
of levels from the local to the international. We therefore support the principle of
subsidiarity – that political and economic decisions are made at the most localized
level which is effective – this recognizes that decisions about the distribution of
political power between world regions can only be made at the international level – but
that even at this level, decision making can and must operate on the basis of
representative democracy.
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