Economy of Communion

A Project for the Return to Neglected Values

Abstract

Economy of Communion (EoC) is a project working toward unity and the new culture of giving, an alternative to the prevailing culture of ownership. The specific feature of EoC is that it integrates religious values and principles into business principles. The project came to life in the Brazilian slums twenty years ago and was initiated by the Focolare Movement and its founder, Chiara Lubich. Today more than seven hundred business firms worldwide follow the EoC model thus demonstrating that business can be run successfully on principles of unity, brotherhood, reciprocity and giving.  The goal of this article is to introduce EoC and the implementation thereof within the context of the existing economic system. In the first section, the basic concepts of this alternative economic model are introduced through a historical survey, while the second section focuses on EoC as it has been practised in the world. Special emphasis is placed upon the implementation of EoC principles in the Croatian firms of the productive park »Faro« near Križevci. The study provided is in no way comprehensive, but its goal is to open up space for future interdisciplinary discussion and in-depth analysis.