USI Communal Studies Association Conference to explore communal theory, practice and impact

The Communal Studies Association (CSA) Conference will meet Thursday through Saturday, October 5-7, on the USI campus and in New Harmony, Indiana. The theme for the 2023 Conference is “Communal Theory, Practice and Impact,” in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the CSA.  

The CSA is an interdisciplinary organization for individuals living in intentional communities, historic site personnel, and academics representing topics including history, anthropology, religious studies, sociology, political science and others. 

“This will be a year of celebration as the group, founded by USI’s own Dr. Donald Pitzer when I was an undergrad, returns for its 50th annual Conference,” says Dr. Greg Brown, Conference Committee Chair. “I am excited to see this group of scholars and practitioners focused on positive ways of living return to New Harmony. I believe the focus on human cooperative behavior is as important in 2023 as it has ever been.” 

The Conference will open Thursday, October 5 with a banquet in Carter Hall, located in University Center West. On Friday and Saturday, October 6-7, participants will have the opportunity to listen in on various panels, including “What is Happening in Your Community? Why Community Development Matters,” “Following the Feminist Footsteps: Mapping the Movements of Two Communal Socialists,” and many more in various, historic locations around New Harmony. For a full list of panels and locations, visit communalstudies.org. 

“The University is uniquely situated to help address some of the contemporary challenges facing humanity because of its Center for Communal Studies, with its collection of over 500 communities, 15,000 images and 243 oral histories,” says Dr. Silvia Rode, Director of the Center for Communal Studies and Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “Since 1976, the Center has flourished as the foremost research institution in the United States for historical communal groups, intentional communities and utopia. In addition, USI’s communal studies minor allows students to explore the diverse history and social, economic and political structure of current communal experiments in the United States and the world.” 

To learn more about, and register for, the Communal Studies Conference, visit communalstudies.org. For questions, contact Rode at sarode@usi.edu or 812-465-7026.