The New State · Question
How does The New State develop the theme of Neighborhood Organization as the Political Unit?
Answer
The New State by Mary Parker Follett develops Neighborhood Organization as the Political Unit across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The book proposes that neighborhoods should be organized into regular, self-governing groups that become the recognized political unit, replacing party systems and enabling citizens to directly participate in and shape state and city governance.
The chapter proposes organizing men in small, local groups as the next form democracy must take, where individual wills can mingle to produce an all-will.
The chapter proposes neighborhood groups as the fundamental units of political organization, replacing mass rule with local self-governance.
The chapter centers on the neighborhood group as the foundational political unit for genuine democratic participation.
Evidence in the book
- XVII: Democracy Not the Majority: Our Political Fallacy
The chapter proposes organizing men in small, local groups as the next form democracy must take, where individual wills can mingle to produce an all-will.
- Part III: Group Organization Democracy’s Method
The chapter proposes neighborhood groups as the fundamental units of political organization, replacing mass rule with local self-governance.
- I: The Neighborhood Group
The chapter centers on the neighborhood group as the foundational political unit for genuine democratic participation.
- XXII: Neighborhood Needs the Basis of Politics
The chapter centers on the neighborhood group as the most significant political unit, arguing that it can revolutionize politics by addressing real needs and coordinating other associations.
- An Integrated Neighborhood
The chapter argues that neighborhood consciousness and regular meetings are foundational to democracy, proposing neighborhood organization as a new political method.
- Neighborhood Organization vs. Party Organization I
Neighborhood organization is presented as the fundamental unit for creating genuine public opinion and replacing party rule.
- Neighborhood Organization vs. Party Organization II
The chapter focuses on neighborhood groups as the means to produce real leaders and a genuine democratic will, contrasting with party organization.
- XXVI: Neighborhood Organization vs. Party Organization III
The chapter argues that neighborhood groups must replace party organizations, making the neighborhood the fundamental unit of political life and self-government.
