Aiming for change : intentional communities and ideology in function

Sammanfattning: The question raised in this thesis is whether there is a common ideology to be found among intentional communities, and if so, what does characterise such an ideology and how does it relate to the traditional –isms? The study takes its theoretical point of departure in a functional concept of ideology, along with six dimensions of social critique: the political, the politico-economic, the politico-sexual, the psychosocial, the religious and spiritual, and the environmental.The findings of this study indicate that intentional communities have a common ideological core. They explain the world around them in terms of that the modern, capitalist society having disempowered its citizens and put them into structures that are alienating and unsustainable. The evaluation that they offer is that it is necessary to work for more integration, autonomy and sustainability. The orientative function indicates that the social agent is the individual in community. Together communards claim that they can develop new structures and function as role models and inspiration for the mainstream. Finally, the programme that they suggest is to, through outreaching work and internal work, cut consumption and change production methods in order to ease as well environmental as social impact.