Kommuunide

Kommuunide are intentional communities in which a group of people live together and share housing, resources, and often work. They are characterized by collective decision making, some form of shared property, and a common purpose that can be economic, social, spiritual, or environmental. Kommuunide can be secular or religious in orientation and range from small households to larger settlements.

Forms of kommuunide vary widely. Some are religious communities that live according to shared beliefs, while others are secular experiments in cooperative living or ecological sustainability. They can be rural farming collectives, urban co-housing projects, or ecovillages that emphasize environmental design. The governance of kommuunide often relies on participatory or consensus-based processes, with members contributing to household duties, income, or farming and decision making about finances, rules, and roles.

Historically, kommuunide have appeared in many contexts. In the 19th century, utopian efforts and communal experiments emerged in Europe and North America. Religious groups, such as certain Christian and Amish-inspired communities, have organized around shared property and social rules. In the 20th century, kibbutzim in Israel, Shaker communities in the United States, and countercultural communes during the 1960s and 1970s are notable examples. In recent decades, urban co-housing and intentional communities focusing on sustainability and social bonds have continued to develop worldwide.

Economic arrangements differ: some kommuunide own land or buildings collectively, others rent while pooling resources; some operate on voluntary labor with income shared or redistributed. Legal forms vary by country, including cooperatives, non-profit associations, or private partnerships. Kommuunide are studied for their social dynamics, governance, and potential contributions to housing affordability and community resilience.

See also: intentional community, cooperative movement, collective housing, ecovillage.