Subsidiarity

I have set up this blogg in order to begin a public presentation of my book, Subsidiarity.Ah. But you wonder, what is subsidiarity? And what does that big satellite transmitting dish have to do with it?

Subsidiarity: a Negative Form: "It is an injustice, a grave evil and a disturbance of right order for a larger and higher organization to arrogate to itself functions which can be performed efficiently by smaller and lower bodies."
-- Pius XI, Quadragesimo Anno 5 (1931)

Subsidiarity: a Positive Form: "A community of a higher order ... should support a community of a lower order in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good."
-- John Paul II, Centesimus Annus 48 (1991)

Subsidiarity in ten words or less: "Let’s not make a Federal case out of this."
-- an American epigram

The Golden Rule of Subsidiarity: "Be as ready to assist others as you would want them to be ready to assist you."

Yes, the idea is as old as Moses, or as the ancient Roman army, and it has been part of "Catholic Social Teaching" since 1891. But in 2000, a computer system began running: a system for managing satellite transport of spots for local ad insertion on cable television. That system was an implementation of Subsidiarity. It was both successful and efficient, and though the cable TV world has changed, the ideas which underlie that system are still present and active, and deserve to be considered - and put to use.

This book has three main parts:

1. I give some background to the idea of Subsidiarity.
2. I explain the system in which I implemented Subsidiarity.
3. I examine three other systems in which Subsidiarity can (or does) play a role, and make some concluding remarks.

There is also some appendix material. You can use the "table of contents" below, or the archive at the right.

I hope you find it useful, and look forward to discussing any issues arising from the topic. And if you would like to see it published, we shall arrange a meeting.

Paradoxically yours,
Doctor Thursday

Table of Contents

Author's Foreword

Part I: An Introduction To Subsidiarity
I.1 Introduction
I.2 Some History
I.3 The Modern Era: Catholic Social Teaching


Glossary