Braziers is a conscious experiment in living together. It was founded to explore how a group could develop more harmonious relationships and more effective group structures.

Much of the research concentrates on techniques of discussion, which allow sensitive attention of the group to all points of view. At their best, these techniques, intended and designed for the purpose – lead to an integration of initially opposing ideas. The process is slow, but constant practice leads to increased sensitivity to the views of other group members, and an increased ability to think together creatively.

The Braziers’ experiment is based on the ideas of two men, Wilfred Trotter (1872-1939), and Norman Glaister (1883-1961), the founder of Braziers. Glaister had a vision of substituting organisations of knowledge, understanding and sympathy for organisations based on power, avoiding too great a concentration of power in a few hands.

The community at Braziers Park has been struggling to operate effectively for some time, and a Director has now been appointed, with the remit of making the activities here financially viable. There is still the commitment to work with the concepts of Sensory and Executive as two parts of an integrated whole.

The results of Braziers’ research are recorded partly through the notes made of meetings, which constitute an archive of material dating from the earliest days of Braziers, and partly through the annual publication of of Braziers’ Research Communications.

AN ETHNOGRAPHY OF AN INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY (15.4MB Printable PDF)

IN OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND

BY DANIELLE BYRNE

26TH MARCH 2010

MSC PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC ANTHROPOLOGY