Commitment and Community: Communes and Utopias in Sociological Perspective
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
What makes some communes work, while others fail? Why is it so difficult to put utopian ideals into practice? In this exciting study of the success or failure of nineteenth-century American Utopias and twentieth-century communes, Rosabeth Moss Kanter combines the results of her first-hand experiences in a variety of contemporary groups with her thorough research on earlier Utopian communities. Convinced that the Utopias of the past offer important models for social organization today, the author also stresses the need for a historical perspective in viewing contemporary movements. Kanter analyzes the ideas and values expressed and developed in communal living, she explores the methods of organization that led to commitment and success or failure in the nineteenth-century, and she deals with the dilemmas and problems that contemporary communities present. The final chapters of this brilliant study, a discussion of contemporary communes, allows the reader to see the similarities as well as the differences between nineteenth and twentieth-century communities.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0674145763
ISBN13:9780674145764
Release Date:January 1972
Publisher:Harvard University Press
Length:320 Pages
Weight:0.82 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"
Related Subjects
Communism & Socialism Criticism & Theory Education & Reference History History & Criticism Humanities Literary Criticism Literary Criticism & Collections Literature Modern (16th-21st Centuries) Movements & Periods Political Ideologies Political Science Politics & Government Politics & Social Sciences Social Science Social Sciences Sociology WorldCustomer Reviews
1 rating
understanding communes
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Perhaps it was appropriate that this book came out in 1972, possibly inspired by what we now see as all too brief heyday for communes in the US. Kanter looks at the history of communes. Often these had a religious inspiration, being a search for an elusive utopia. We see that the historical record of commune longevity is poor. Most quickly failed. Kanter analyses why some managed to prevail much longer than others. An important factor was the use of affirmative social norms, along with a clear ideological demarcation between the commune and the broader society. The last section of the book describes modern [ie. 1960s] US communes. 35 years later, her remarks are fairly accurate. She predicted they would have difficulties in sustaining membership and that their ideologies might not suffice to do so.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
