Open accesscreativecommonsShort article (Editorial review)
Published online: Nov 2018 

Practices and skills for self-governed communal life and work: Lessons for co-operators from one US and one German egalitarian community.

Katarzyna Gajewska

https://doi.org/10.61869/PSXM1910

Vol. 51(2), 67-72

How to cite this article: Gajewska, K. (2018). Practices and skills for self-governed communal life and work: Lessons for co-operators from one US and one German egalitarian community. Journal of Co-operative Studies, 51(2), 67-72.  https://doi.org/10.61869/PSXM1910

Abstract

If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Egalitarian communes create an alternative to capitalist individualist lifestyle and values. They add communal organisation of life and sharing living space to the self-managed enterprises that they operate to generate income. Living in such a setting means agreeing to be challenged and confronted with the conditioning of modern upbringing. In this article, I summarise qualitative research findings with the focus on the practices and developing skills in their everyday operating to deal with conflicts, differences, and maintaining so called “good vibes”. We can learn from these advanced forms of co-operation for other co-operative projects.

Note: This article contains excerpts of already published texts in Creative Commons and is under Creative Commons licence.

Read the full article →

References

de Querol, R.  (2016, January 25). Zygmunt Bauman: "Social media are a trap" (Interview). El Paishttps://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/01/19/inenglish/1453208692_424660.html

Gajewska, Katarzyna (2014, December 27). An intentional egalitarian community as a small-scale implementation of postcapitalist, peer production model of economy. Part I : Work as a spontaneous, voluntary contribution. P2P Foundation. https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/an-intentional-egalitarian-community-as-a-small-scale-implementation-of-postcapitalist-peer-production-model-of-economy-part-i-work-as-a-spontanous-voluntary-contribution/

Gajewska, Katarzyna (2016, January 10). Case study: Creating use value while making a living in egalitarian communities. P2P Foundation. https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/an-intentional-egalitarian-community-as-a-small-scale-implementation-of-postcapitalist-peer-production-model-of-economy-part-ii-creating-use-value-while-making-a-living/

Gajewska, Katarzyna (2016,  July 21). An intentional egalitarian community as a small-scale implementation of Post-Capitalism. P2P Foundation. https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/intentional-egalitarian-community-small-scale-implementation-postcapitalist/

Gajewska, Katarzyna (2016, September). Egalitarian alternative to the US mainstream: Study of Acorn community in Virginia, US. Bronislaw Magazine.

Gajewska, K. (2016, October 11). Egalitarian alternative to the US mainstream: Study of Acorn community in Virginia. Post Growth Institute. 

Gajewska, Katarzyna (2017, January 1). Kommune Niederkaufungen – jak się żyje w 60-osobowej wspólnocie. [Kommune Niederkaufungen – on living in a 60_person commune]. Nowy Obywatel, 22(73). https://nowyobywatel.pl/2017/01/17/kommune-niederkaufungen-jak-sie-zyje-w-60-osobowej-wspolnocie/

Gajewska, K. (2017, June 9). Exploring Abundance as future: Questions inspired by the experience of an egalitarian community, Acorn. P2P Foundation. https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/exploring-abundance-future-questions-inspired-experience-egalitarian-community-acorn/

Gajewska, K. (2017, October 9). Raising children in egalitarian communities: An inspiration. Post-Growth Institute.

Gray, P. (2013). Free to Learn. Basic Books

Marszalek, B. (2017). Stronger Together? (Review). Monthly Review, 69(5).  https://monthlyreview.org/9980069052017/

Rosenberg, M. B. (2003). Nonviolent communication: A language of life (2nd edn.). PuddleDancer Press.