- Collectivism is a term used to describe any moral, political, or social outlook, that stresses human interdependence and the importance of a collective, rather than the importance of separate individuals. Collectivists focus on community and society, and seek to give priority to group goals over individual goals.
- The philosophical underpinnings of collectivism are for some related toholism or organicism - the view that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Specifically, a society as a whole can be seen as having more meaning or value than the separate individuals that make up that society.
- Collectivism is widely seen as the antipole of individualism.
- Collectivism demands that the group be more important than the individual. It requires the individual to sacrifice himself for the alleged good of the group. Although different from altruism, collectivism complements it well. Altruism demands sacrifice for others, collectivism demands sacrifice for the group. Collectivism leads to altruism.
There is a problem, however. 'Collectivism' has very negative connotations and is widely used as a synonym of socialism - by opponents of socialism. I've never heard anyone describe himself or herself as a 'collectivist'.
The term "collectivism" means to give a group priority over the individuals in the group. This means that even though not everyone agree with what is being said, the majority will carry the vote.