How did the Catholic encyclical Rerum Novarum reflect communitarian ideas?

The papal encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) reflects communitarian principles by emphasizing the interdependence of social classes and the moral obligation to prioritize the common good over purely individualistic pursuits.

Rather than viewing society as a collection of autonomous individuals, the document asserts that employers and workers share mutual responsibilities, famously stating that "each needs the other: capital cannot do without labor, nor labor without capital." This focus on social harmony and the integration of different groups into a cohesive whole is a hallmark of communitarian thought.1

Furthermore, while Rerum Novarum defends the right to private property as a natural right, it simultaneously imposes a communitarian moral constraint on its use. Drawing on the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, it argues that individuals should not view their possessions as exclusively their own but as something to be shared for the benefit of the community, especially when others are in need. By advocating for the state and the Church to act as moral authorities that protect the vulnerable and foster collaboration, the encyclical rejects the atomistic individualism often associated with certain forms of liberalism.12