Communitarianism and Third Way

Towards Globalism: Modernity & Post-Modernity’s further attempts to integrate Hegel & Marx

Oct 20, 2025

“Communitarianism is the idea that human identities are largely shaped by different kinds of constitutive communities (or social relations) and that this conception of human nature should inform our moral and political judgments as well as policies and institutions”…
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[ Note: It arose primarily as a critique of liberal individualism including the egalitarian individual liberalism versions found in thinkers such as John Rawls who prioritise the autonomy and rights of the individual as foundational to justice and moral order. Communitarians argue that liberalism, with its focus on individuals and abstract universal rights, overlooks the social contexts that make individual autonomy possible. Rather than being pure materialistic in nature ( e.g. Marx) it attempts to integrate idealism ( e.g. Hegel) and modern liberal traditions into the framework - it is collectivist, socially progressive in nature and grounded in a Marxist/Hegel dialectic ( i.e. Materialism & Idealism) ]

“third way, in politics, a proposed alternative between two hitherto dominant models, namely left-wing and right-wing political groups. Historically, the term third way was used to refer to a variety of forms of government—from Nordic social democracy to fascism. At the end of the 20th century, however, it acquired a more specific meaning when British sociologist Anthony Giddens used it to describe an alternative to neoliberalism and social democracy in an era of globalisation”…
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[ The Third Way is a political and philosophical concept that seeks to transcend or reconcile the traditional opposition between capitalism and socialism. It aims to offer a middle path—retaining the efficiency and innovation of market economies whilst promoting social justice and community responsibility. Early third way ideas were corporatist and fascist in nature ( i.e. merger of corporate and state power) whereas (arguably - highly debatable it has really moved beyond corporatism/fascism) more recent versions attempt to resolve being pro-market but also socially conscious that emphasises welfare reform, equality of opportunity and education - it is socially progressive in nature and grounded in a Marxist/Hegel dialectic ( i.e. capitalism & individual and socialism & collective) ]

Note: the central question with both of the above Modern & Post-Modern progressive social and political movements is how are they any different from the Hegelian (Idealism - Primacy of Human Consciousness) & Marxist ( Materialism - Primacy of Man) philosophy (incl. Dialectical Materialism and Historical Materialism) that had become endemic across Western Civilisation post the arrival of Modernity which has led to a Crisis of Modernity ( refer Augusto del Noce and Leo Strauss) and Post-Modernity ( refer Noam Chomsky and Leo Strauss)? The increasing dismissal of Transcendental Metaphysics, Normative Sciences ( Truth, Aesthetics, Ethics - The Good), Objective Moral Values ( Natural Rights & Moral Duties - Locke), emanating from God’s Will and a Divine Order of Things.