Page 6 - C.A.L.L. #29 - Winter 2007

Following the successful ICSA Conference this summer in Italy, we
commissioned both the outgoing and incoming presidents,
Emeritus Professor Dennis Hardy and Professor Michal Palgi
respectively, to write exclusively for C.A.L.L.

Communities and a Changing Agenda

The International Communal Studies Association (ICSA) is alive and well! At the end of June,
members gathered for the latest in its series of international conferences. This time the location
was the beautiful Val Chiusella, in the foothills of the Italian Alps to the north of Turin, where ICSA
enjoyed the warm hospitality of the well-established Damanhur community. As well as a unique
opportunity to meet like-minded enthusiasts from around the world, the event offered a rich mix
of reflective papers and community practice. An additional attraction was a post-conference visit
to an inspirational eco-village, Torri Superiore, as well as to some more traditional examples of
Italian community living.

On a personal note, the conference marked the end of my tenure as President of the Association
and I am delighted to welcome Professor Michal Palgi as the incoming holder of this office. It was
a privilege to serve as President and I'd like to share a few thoughts on the experience.

Firstly, ICSA has now been in existence for 22 years and it seemed timely at Damanhur to ask
whether the organisation still has a meaningful role. This was discussed by the ICSA Board and,
while it is recognised that the nature of community issues changes over time, the rationale for a
body that straddles theory and practice in this way and whose remit crosses international
boundaries remains as powerful as ever. Regular conferences of the sort that were held this past
summer continue to serve a valuable purpose for scholars, practitioners and policy-makers alike.

Secondly, if ICSA is to remain relevant and attract new members, changing priorities need to be
recognised and accommodated by the Association. At Damanhur, the traditional core of ICSA
interests was well represented, with challenging papers on historical communities, on the still
evolving story of the kibbutz movement, on the significance of contemporary experiments and on
some of the practical aspects of community living.
As well as this traditional fare, there was also a
strong and welcome presence of 'eco-villagers',
who see in communities a natural ally in the
current search for sustainable lifestyles.

Thirdly, reflecting the dynamism of communities
themselves, it is vital that the ICSA membership is
itself constantly revitalised. It is a sign of strength
that many of the founding members are still
leading lights in the organisation but no less is it
important that a new generation becomes more
involved. At Damanhur it was encouraging to see so many new faces and it is to be hoped that
many of these will, in time, define new directions for ICSA.

Finally, the next conference, in 2010, will be held in Israel, coinciding with the centenary
anniversary of the foundation of the first kibbutz. This is a fitting location, if only because the
kibbutz represents arguably the most important communal experiment in modern times. It is also
fitting because of the opportunity it will offer to demonstrate how communal values can transcend
political divisions and cultural conflicts, and chart a way forward that is no less relevant in our
present century than it has proved in the past.

Emeritus Professor Dennis Hardy
ICSA Past President, 2004-2007

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