Agrarian Collectivism: Catholic Social Teaching, Hispanic tradition, and Common Law: Joaquín Costa's philosophy of property

Abstract

In this article we seek to demonstrate the existence of a theory of property in the work of Joaquín Costa. This underlies both in his writings aimed at influencing the politics of his time and in his philosophical studies of other authors. In this sense, we will try to determine which is Costa's position among all those he studies, as well as to show exactly what are the origins of this author's theory, which can be located in the political theology of Catholic Social Teaching, the collectivist practices of the Spanish agrarian community and the authors of what he calls the Spanish School of Law. In this sense, we will clarify the place of the costist economic theory ―agrarian collectivism― among the modern and classical theories of property, particularly in its relationship with socialism. Finally, we will show the close relationship between property and customary law in Costa. All this will show the possibility of understanding Costa as a fertile author for the Spanish progressive tradition.