The Vision Misalignment
Much is spoken about “compatibility”, “like mindedness”, “consciousness” etc. as contributing to the success or failure of an intentional community (IC.) These are all subjective constructs particular to the individual psyche, its history and circumstances. The human condition is messy and driven by reaction to one grievance or another.
The Root Problem
What is constant is environment. A structure conducive to one’s actual needs persists across temporary protestations or catharsis. Central to this is the economic imperatives of the individual to survive and prosper, and which forms the fundamental basis for conflict in any situation, be it work-exchange, intentional communities or employment. If there is an imbalance or injustice that compromises or threatens an individual’s economic well-being then conflict arises.
The Working Cooperative Solution
The solution is to recognise the primacy of the economic concern before the subjective idealisms. One proposal is a model based on a working cooperative, which is an incorporated structure that shares ownership with its members while participating in the dominant capitalist environment.
This mitigates several things.
Firstly, individuals are no longer subjected to the exploitation of leveraged labour for individual profits.
Secondly, you beat capitalism at its own game because capitalist companies now need to source their human inputs not through labour but services in the market at the going rate.
Thirdly, those profits accruing to the cooperative are distributed equally amongst its members.
Fourthly, there is greater power and leverage in multiple people contributing their skills in an organisation than trying to go it alone.
Fifthly, decision making and direction is informed by the collective will of the cooperative.
The Current Needs Gap
It is not a crime to be unemployed. It is not a crime to need shelter. It is not a crime to need food.
There is a disparity between the models of current ICs and for-profit commercial entites posing as human-centric work-exchange, volunteer, “ecological”, “conscious” (name your fad) rental organisations and the economic needs of people in distress drawn to these so called opportunities out of need.
The solution to the problem is not with those organisations. They do not have the power or inclination to solve it. The solution is with individuals themselves.
Create Your Own
Anyone with holistic priorities looking for an intentional community should consider forming their own IC based on a working cooperative. Combine one’s skills with those of others and create a cooperative business that sells into the dominant economy and which creates and owns one’s accommodation. Then layer one’s own distinct intentional community values on top of that.