Transforming Governance Beyond Wage Labor

When the traditional model of employing wage labor loses its ground, rulers face radical changes in social organization and land management. In conditions where the profit from turning labor into a commodity becomes unattainable, the classic economic system based on labor exploitation and land ownership disappears. This fundamentally changes the rules of the game: the mechanisms of routine land cultivation vanish, and those in power are forced to seek alternatives for mobilizing and coordinating labor.

Using the example of a ruler who could not resort to hiring laborers to build a majestic temple, we see how the absence of such a workforce creates additional challenges. Despite criticism from influential members of society and doubts about the feasibility of the grand project, the leader did not give up. Drawing on his resolve and the support of the people, he managed to organize new mechanisms of labor and unity. This experience clearly demonstrates that, even under severe change, adept leadership can inspire citizens to achieve collective feats, enabling them to overcome traditional barriers and move forward effectively.

Thus, abandoning the use of wage labor not only dismantles established economic and social relationships but also opens up new opportunities to rethink management strategies. The role of a ruler transforms from exerting direct control over labor processes to mastering the art of mobilizing and coordinating the energetic forces of society. This modern challenge requires innovative approaches, with success potentially serving as a catalyst for creating a more resilient and cohesive social structure.

How does the absence of wage labor affect the ruler’s ability to build and develop society?

The lack of wage labor significantly impacts a ruler’s ability to build and develop society. On the one hand, the absence of wage labor means that land can no longer be efficiently used as a source of profit through the commodification of labor, leading to the breakdown of the traditional basis for economic exploitation and property relations. As stated in one source:

"Enclosed land becomes the property of those who can pay others to enclose it for them. Thus, enclosure means displacing the 'others' from a wasteland on which their livelihood might have depended. For comparison, consider how Winstenly tackled the transition to a communist society: eliminate wage labor through a national strike of wage workers, and the landowners will have no choice but to surrender—there is no point in owning land if no one will work on it for you."
(source: link , page: 2)

This passage emphasizes that the absence of wage labor undermines the traditional system in which rulers and landowners depended on subcontractors and wage workers to monopolize land cultivation. Without wage labor, a ruler is forced to rely on alternative forms of labor organization and mass mobilization, often accompanied by various difficulties.

On the other hand, as illustrated by the example of Lord Athanasius, the inability to enlist wage workers for a large-scale project (the construction of a cathedral) creates additional challenges. Despite skepticism and criticism from influential members of society, the ruler, in trying to overcome the problem of an absent wage labor force, was compelled to seek and use other forms of labor organization, relying on the motivation and support of the people:

"Lord Athanasius did not betray the hopes placed upon him, and the clamor to raise the cathedral from the depths of wage labor found resonance in him. All the local oracles predicted his failure in this seemingly hopeless endeavor. Once again, one recalls how a certain, let’s say, señor harshly criticized Lord Athanasius at a meeting convened to discuss the cathedral’s construction, condemning the project for lacking even the most basic seriousness. But… 'I will reject the wisdom of the wise,' declared the Lord through the prophet, and the envious wise men were left humiliated."
(source: link , page: 8)

Thus, the absence of wage labor forces a ruler to seek new ways of organizing societal forces, which can both stimulate unity and self-reliance among citizens and pose challenges related to the efficiency and quality of large-scale state projects. In such circumstances, the ruler’s role shifts from direct control over labor processes to the ability to mobilize and coordinate collective efforts, necessitating innovative approaches to governance.

Supporting citation(s):
"Enclosed land becomes the property of those who can pay others to enclose it for them. Thus, enclosure means displacing the 'others' from a wasteland on which their livelihood might have depended. For comparison, consider how Winstenly tackled the transition to a communist society: eliminate wage labor through a national strike of wage workers, and the landowners will have no choice but to surrender—there is no point in owning land if no one will work on it for you."
(source: link , page: 2)

"Lord Athanasius did not betray the hopes placed upon him, and the clamor to raise the cathedral from the depths of wage labor found resonance in him. All the local oracles predicted his failure in this seemingly hopeless endeavor. Once again, one recalls how a certain, let’s say, señor harshly criticized Lord Athanasius at a meeting convened to discuss the cathedral’s construction, condemning the project for lacking even the most basic seriousness. But… 'I will reject the wisdom of the wise,' declared the Lord through the prophet, and the envious wise men were left humiliated."
(source: link , page: 8)