Word Geekery

Warning! These are just simple definitions. There is a whole world of detail and debate out there if you start to dig deeper!

The word ‘capitalism’ comes from the Latin word capitalis which means "head of cattle". The Oxford dictionary defines it as “an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state”.

The word ‘libertarian’…

The word ‘liberalism’…

The word ‘socialism’ comes from the Latin word sociare, which means “to combine or share”. The Oxford dictionary defines it as “a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole”.

The word ‘communism’ comes from the Latin word communis, meaning "common" or "shared." It is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs”.

The word ‘anarchism’ comes from the ancient Greek word anarchos, which means "without rulers." The Oxford dictionary defines it as “the belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without force or compulsion”.