Marriage privatization simply means removing control of the institution of marriage from government hands. As a result, the idea of marriage will be controlled by private entities, including churches, community groups, families and individuals. Also, like many other things after privatization, marriage will no longer be controlled by a monopoly (the government), but will instead be defined and constituted differently among the private entities that help to uphold it. Couples will have a choice as to which model(s) of marriage they wish to subscribe to, making the decision with their own values and moral compass.
Marriage privatization has been widely discussed since the late 1990s as a solution to the conflict regarding same-sex marriage. Over the past two decades, many people have also recognised that marriage privatization holds benefits much further than resolving a contentious debate about definition. In a society as diverse as the modern West, it is in fact quite inconvenient that marriage is a one-size-fits-all solution, centrally governed by a piece of law that the government can change at any time. Still, despite all this interest, marriage privatization has remained an academic discussion point, without much discussion about practical solutions.
This book is a first attempt to pave a practical way towards marriage privatization. It provides practical reforms that can be argued for in the sphere of everyday politics, that will ultimately lead to a society where people are truly free to opt for private marriages.