b. 1957
Michael Shuman is a contemporary American economist, attorney, and community development advocate known for his critique of hyper-individualistic economic and political frameworks. He argues that atomistic conceptions of the self—treating individuals as fundamentally separate from community ties—erode the social fabric necessary for liberal democratic institutions to function. His work bridges political philosophy, economics, and localism, contending that resilient communities require relational rather than atomistic models of persons.
Argued that atomistic liberal individualism undermines the communal preconditions of liberal society itself
Developed a theory of economic localism as a structural corrective to atomistic political economy
Authored influential works on community self-reliance and the small-business economy
Advocated for place-based economics as a foundation for democratic participation
Contributed to communitarian debates on the relationship between self-conception and civic life