Chapter 7 Cultural Context and Conflict in Intentional Communities
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Yana Ludwig
Abstract
In this chapter, we focus on the interplay between culture, conflict resolution, and how success is defined in intentional communities. We propose a novel definition of success tied to a community’s progress toward its moral claim and reflect on that definition using two sources of data. First, we conducted a survey that shows a strong correlation between formal conflict resolution processes and members’ satisfaction with dimensions of that definition. Second, we developed case studies using ethnographic and personal experiences with Blue River Co-Housing and Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage to illustrate the importance of shared values in mitigating conflicts. We identify three cultural paradigms - Mainstream, Counter, and Cooperative - and argue for the advantages of Cooperative culture in fostering conflict resolution. The chapter underscores the need for intentional community founders to prioritize cultural alignment for effective conflict resolution, and suggests avenues for future research to enhance communal living practices.
Abstract
In this chapter, we focus on the interplay between culture, conflict resolution, and how success is defined in intentional communities. We propose a novel definition of success tied to a community’s progress toward its moral claim and reflect on that definition using two sources of data. First, we conducted a survey that shows a strong correlation between formal conflict resolution processes and members’ satisfaction with dimensions of that definition. Second, we developed case studies using ethnographic and personal experiences with Blue River Co-Housing and Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage to illustrate the importance of shared values in mitigating conflicts. We identify three cultural paradigms - Mainstream, Counter, and Cooperative - and argue for the advantages of Cooperative culture in fostering conflict resolution. The chapter underscores the need for intentional community founders to prioritize cultural alignment for effective conflict resolution, and suggests avenues for future research to enhance communal living practices.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Foreword V
- Contents VII
- An Overview of the Book and a Short Review of the Theoretical Framework 1
-
Part 1: Theory and research
- Chapter 1 Community Building Meets Conflict Transformation: An Integrated Approach 13
- Chapter 2 Man’s Best Friend? Dogs and Social Conflict in the Israeli Kibbutz 43
- Chapter 3 After all, we are one community: Conflicts between the kibbutz and its new extension neighborhood residents as a reflection of changes in the social field 61
- Chapter 4 Ideological conflicts and their resolution in the kibbutz movement 1948–1956 87
-
Part 2: Practical approaches to conflict resolution in intentional communities
- Chapter 5 Consensus building in communities 109
- Chapter 6 Conflict Circles: Practical Experimentation with Derivations of Restorative Circles in U.S. Intentional Communities 125
- Chapter 7 Cultural Context and Conflict in Intentional Communities 139
- Chapter 8 Power-With Instead of Power-Over: Preventing and Addressing Conflict in Communities with Sociocracy 151
- Contributors 165
- Index 167
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Foreword V
- Contents VII
- An Overview of the Book and a Short Review of the Theoretical Framework 1
-
Part 1: Theory and research
- Chapter 1 Community Building Meets Conflict Transformation: An Integrated Approach 13
- Chapter 2 Man’s Best Friend? Dogs and Social Conflict in the Israeli Kibbutz 43
- Chapter 3 After all, we are one community: Conflicts between the kibbutz and its new extension neighborhood residents as a reflection of changes in the social field 61
- Chapter 4 Ideological conflicts and their resolution in the kibbutz movement 1948–1956 87
-
Part 2: Practical approaches to conflict resolution in intentional communities
- Chapter 5 Consensus building in communities 109
- Chapter 6 Conflict Circles: Practical Experimentation with Derivations of Restorative Circles in U.S. Intentional Communities 125
- Chapter 7 Cultural Context and Conflict in Intentional Communities 139
- Chapter 8 Power-With Instead of Power-Over: Preventing and Addressing Conflict in Communities with Sociocracy 151
- Contributors 165
- Index 167
