We are a group of academic staff from several disciplines with an interest in intentional communities. We are currently organising a series of events and activities including:
An inter-disciplinary lunchtime seminar series
A bi-annual symposium to bring together Academics, people living in intentional communities, researchers, developers, policy makers and housing associations to examine the phenomenon of communal living.
-
Working with social landlords in Wales to develop a better understanding amongst the sector, and to encourage innovative approaches to housing and community.
Developing a research based 'tool-kit' that can be used by new groups to help avoid pitfalls. This is not a meant as a practical guide (these are already available) but as a guide to better understanding some of the barriers so that they can be avoided/dealt with at an early stage.
Developing a body of research to better understand aspects such as:
Why people choose to join communities / and why they choose not to
Understanding the decision making process and governance
Issues of power - the 'formers' (people who initiate and carry through) and 'joiners' (people who join existing communities)
Are people influenced by utopian literature?
What are the signs / indicators that a conceptual community will develop into a reality. This may include following embryonic groups as they progress)
Do communities move through distinct stages and phases?
Are intentional communities different according to different cultures – Japan? America? (or is the very nature of 'stepping out of the norm' a normalising process across continents – the 'global' village')
Decision making within Intentional Communities? At every stage – does it change / mature. Are there critical stages for this, does the way decision making happen indicate the progress of the community?
