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Austerity and Unintended Riches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2009

Barrington Moore Jr.
Barrington Moore Jr.
Affiliation:
Harvard University
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Extract

What are the social and psychological sources of social movements that are committed to (1) equality among their members, (2) communitarian ideals emphasizing strong ties of affection among members and a belief in spontaneous cooperation without direction by authority, and (3) austerity in the consumption of physical goods and also in the use or display of comforts and ornaments? In the course of time what becomes of such a movement as it tries to put its ideals into practice? Many but not all of those that have lasted—and I shall limit this inquiry to examples that have lasted for at least several generations—have become quite wealthy. How and why does this change come about, and what are its consequences?

Type
Communal Strengths
Information
Comparative Studies in Society and History , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , October 1987 , pp. 787 - 810
Copyright
Copyright © Society for the Comparative Study of Society and History 1987

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References

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46 Talmon, , Family and Community, 94–95Google Scholar.

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55 Carthusians, 66–68.

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