IMG#27

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can operate best in a decentralized system, where local knowl-edge makes processes of consultation easier, in a system where a great deal of the tasks of govemment are ceded to associa-tions, and where coordination depends on the cooperation of these associations.

There are two ways of beginning to change the balance of power between the different kinds of associations and for promot-ing new pattems of coordinative govemance between associations and the decentralized State. The first is to advocate a process of building-up associations from belo w, not State crafting from above. This involves political campaigning and voluntary action in civil society, and assistance from stronger associations to weaker. The resources to form and sustain associations are far from eąually distributed, but they do not prevent efforts to construct or to rebuild means of campaigning on behalf of the poor, the excluded and the unpopular causes. Trade unions have so far madę poor efforts to develop or to help representation for the unemployed. Churches are possessed of considerable resources and great public influence, and often accept a social mission. They might become morę effective in campaigning and in aiding marginalized constituencies if they saw the value of an associa-tionalist strategy. The list can be extended to cover a large part of civil society. Given such action from below, then it makes sense to press for tax and other concessions to associations, and for the voluntary sector to begin to take over public tasks.

The second would be to work at the regional level, to build-on and to attempt to widen the efforts of regional and local govem-ments to promote programmes of economic revitalization, and to promote a coordinative politics for the economy at subnational levels. It may well be that morę collaborative relationships within firms, between management and labour, will develop from part-nerships between firms, organized labour and local public agencies to develop and sustain the local or regional economy. Greater economic democracy involves recognizing the importance of the conception of democracy as communication, building up two kinds of partnership, one between employees, managers and external providers of Capital in the firm, and the other between firms themselves, creating a public sphere of collaborative economic governance of the locality or region.

Such methods of building both associations' capacities and