Marinaleda is a small town in Seville, Spain which has been described by its mayor and journalists as a 'communist utopia'.
Decision-Making
The town follows the standard liberal model of a representative democracy, but despite the eccentric communist mayor. It is more likely that the towns unique policies are due to the constant hunger strikes, occupations of government buildings and hostility towards traditional spanish politics means that it is more the autonomous power of the working class and the states desire to not deal with an insurrection that is the reason for the towns ability to experiment.
Crime
Marinaleda has been called a "utopia for peace", which has no municipal police (saving $350,000 a year).[1]
Economics
The town has maintained full employment (in a country of high unemployment) by creating worker cooperatives in the industries of farming (producing wheat, artichokes, lettuce, tomato, peppers, broccoli and beans) as well as self-managed factories which produce canned goods.[2]
Housing costs are extremely low in Marinaleda, as you can own a house for 15 euros a month. Land is owned commonly and neighbours and builders help out new homeowners in the spirit of mutual aid. Each house has three bedrooms, one bathroom and a large garden.[1]
Since the transition towards a cooperative economy, the town has built a school, a TV station, a radio station, parks, childcare centers, aged care homes, doctors offices and a swimming pool.[2]
Culture
Additionally, political murals and revolutionary slogans adorn the town's whitewashed walls and streets are named after Latin American leftists (like Che Guevara). Every few weeks, the town hall declares a Red Sunday over a bullhorn and volunteers clean the streets or do odd jobs[1]