Intentional Communities

An intentional community is a group of people who choose to live together with a common purpose and shared core values, which may be social, political, religious, or spiritual. While these communities exist within nation-states and lack formal legal autonomy, they often represent grassroots attempts at self-determination.

These communities often form around environmental, communal living, religious, or self-sufficiency principles. While they typically don’t challenge state sovereignty, they create their own internal rules enforced through social consensus rather than force. This makes them attractive to those seeking alternatives to mainstream society.

There are thousands of intentional communities worldwide. Many have demonstrated that alternative social arrangements can work well among voluntary participants who share common goals and values. These communities serve as practical examples of grassroots self-governance and the potential for creating successful alternative living arrangements.