# Collectivism — The Servile State character guide

> Collectivism in The Servile State by Hilaire Belloc.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** its, It

**First appearance:** 0011-vii-socialism-is-the-easiest-apparent-solution-of-the-capitalist-crux

## Who they are

Personified concept of collective ownership debated in the text.

## Relationships

### [Citizen A](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/characters/citizen_a)

_psychological_

Citizen A is deeply entangled with the ideology of Collectivism, perhaps as a reluctant adherent or a victim of its demands.

### [Citizen B](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/characters/citizen_b)

_psychological_

Citizen B is affected by Collectivism, possibly as a reluctant participant or a critic of the system.

### [D](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/characters/d)

_psychological_

Collectivism and D are linked ideologically, with D possibly enforcing or embodying collectivist principles.

## In the story

### [Preface to Second Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/preface-to-second-edition)

Referenced as the socialist ideal that is not being approached; instead, the servile state emerges from the conflict between collectivism and capitalism.

### [The Servile State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/the-servile-state)

Collectivism is personified as a force that diverts socialist reform toward servitude rather than liberation.

### [I: Definitions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/i-definitions)

Mentioned as a rhetorical metaphor for servile conditions, but distinguished from the precise definition.

### [II: Our Civilisation Was Originally Servile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/ii-our-civilisation-was-originally-servile)

Collectivism is implicitly referenced as the social arrangement of the servile state, where the mass of people are dispossessed and compelled to labor.

### [III: How the Servile Institution Was for a Time Dissolved](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/iii-how-the-servile-institution-was-for-a-time-dissolved)

Collectivism is mentioned as not having replaced the servile institution; common land and guild property were part of a system of personal ownership.

### [VI: The Stable Solutions of This Instability](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/vi-the-stable-solutions-of-this-instability)

Personified as the collectivist theory that, when acted upon, produces the servile state rather than true socialism.

### [VII: Socialism Is the Easiest Apparent Solution of the Capitalist Crux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/vii-socialism-is-the-easiest-apparent-solution-of-the-capitalist-crux)

Personified as a reform approach that naturally develops from capitalism and appeals to both capitalists and proletarians.

### [VIII: The Reformers and Reformed Are Alike Making for the Servile State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/viii-the-reformers-and-reformed-are-alike-making-for-the-servile-state)

Personified as an ideal that reformers are drifting away from toward the servile state.

### [Appendix on “Buying-Out”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/appendix-on-buying-out)

Collectivism is the proponent of the buyout scheme, which the author argues is futile and ultimately amounts to confiscation.

### [IX: The Servile State Has Begun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/ix-the-servile-state-has-begun)

Collectivism is discussed as a force that, through municipalisation and nationalisation, actually increases dependence on capitalism rather than achieving true socialisation.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/conclusion)

Mentioned as a failing theoretical system that cannot inform a real and living society.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in the special sense of the word 'collectivist' as distinct from 'socialist'.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/characters/collectivism
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_servile_state_se/characters