Full Description
The idea of a better society as associated with the communal idea is investigated from both theoretical perspectives and through contemporary experiences around the world. This idea leaves nobody indifferent. Whatever the hardship that its concretization implies, however, once it does materialize, it cannot, as such avoid new challenges, tensions and unexpected claims. This means, at varying degrees, negations of, and removals from, the "utopian inspiration". Humans are able to create unprecedented conditions of life under most ambitious inspirations, but are unable to safeguard their achievements from change, alterations and contradictions. In this, however, another aspect of the utopian realizations is that they ultimately leave room for new utopist thinking and enrolment. As far, indeed, the utopian inspiration draws its vitality from potent civilizational codes, its renewal from ashes is as unavoidable as its self-betrayal through materialization.
Contributors included: Eliezer Ben-Rafael, Rami Degany, Amitai Etzioni, Maria Fölling-Albers, Yiftah Goldman, Ruth Kark, Yossi Katz, John Lehr, Graham Meltzer, Bill Metcalf, Timothy Miller, Yaacov Oved, Michal Palgi, Donald E. Pitzer, Shulamit Reinharz, Lyman Tower Sargent, György Széll, Menachem Topel, Katherine Trebeck, and Chris Warhurst.
Contents
Preface
List of contributors
Introduction: A Difficult Question, Eliezer Ben-Rafael, Yaacov Oved and Menachem Topel
PART I: RELEXIONS AND THORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
1. General Thoughts about the Communal Idea, Amitai Etzioni
2. Developmental Communalism into the Twenty-First Century, Donald E. Pitzer
3. Theorizing Intentional Community in the Twenty-First Century, Lyman Tower Sargent
4. Contemporary Communalism at a Time of Crisis, Graham Meltzer
5. Commune and Community: a Socialist Perspective, Yiftah Goldman
PART II: THE DIVERSITY OF CHALLENGES
6. Communes and Communities: History and Perspective, Yaacov Oved
7. Historical Perspectives on Participation, György Széll
8. Community: Greatly Needed but Hard to Achieve, Timothy Miller
9. Communal Aspects of Contemporary Life, Shulamit Reinharz
10. In the Collective Interest: Job Quality, Chris Warhurst and Katherine Trebeck
PART III: A MULTI-SIDED PRAXIS
11. The Communal Idea in 21st Century Australia and New Zealand, Bill Metcalf
12. Renewing Traditional Communality, Menachem Topel
13. Christian and Messianic Jews' Communes in Israel: Past, Present and Future, Rami Degani and Ruth Kark
14. Gender, Power and Equality: Women's Roles in Hutterite Society, Yossi Katz and John C. Lehr
PART IV: A CRITICAL TEST: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE KIBBUTZ
15. The Reciprocal Relationship between Feminism and Communal Life, Michal Palgi
16. Kibbutz Education: Characteristics, Changes and Future Relevance, Maria Fölling-Albers
17. Kibbutz: Survival at Risk, Eliezer Ben-Rafael
Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
