This thesis addresses the issue of the formation of democratic communities, which we perceive as the diametric opposite of the individualistic way of life. We understand institutionalized individualization – which we examine through the lens of Ulrich Beck – as a social reality conditioned by the capitalist class structure. Through a description of the structure and functioning of capitalism as an institutionalized social order, we identify workers as potential agents of anti-capitalist resistance, since the class structure and the market’s orientation toward ever increasing profits place them in a position of exploitation. We view workers’ formation of democratic communities as a sphere where the values of equality/justice, democracy/freedom, and community/solidarity can be realized. The emergence of such communities is based on workers’ recognition that they are united by common interests and that they themselves are the agents of cooperation, which is crucial in the sphere of work. In the final section, we thus critically examine the possibility of forming democratic collectives in the face of structural and institutional barriers.
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