What is utopia? Why are communes created? Where are they, and what do they promote? The Palgrave Companion to North American Utopias is a fascinating virtual catalogue of utopian societies and communes from past to present. From the Shakers to the Mormons to the Raelians and the Hutterites, the quest for a utopian lifestyle has been a human endeavor since the beginning of time. In this intriguing guide, North American utopian communities are explored by Friesen and Friesen with a view to a new social system for the twenty first century. The authors assert that the formation of a utopian society is both possible and feasible, and give examples of how to create one of our own. This is a smart, clever and unique reference for all of us who are curious to know more about utopian communities.
John W. Friesen is Professor in the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Communication and Culture at the University of Calgary, Canada.Virginia Lyons Friesen is Sessional Instructor in the Faculty of Communication and Culture at the University of Calgary.
Introduction The Concept of Utopia The Need for Utopia Non-Communal Utopias Religious Communes Economic-Oriented Communes The Harmonists: An Economic-Religious Model Unorthodox Communes 20th Century Communes Hutterite Communalism Towards a Model for Utopia