The New State: Group Organization the Solution of Popular Government

by Mary Parker Follett

Having organized neighborhood discussion groups before World War I, Follett traces the dynamics she noticed in these forums and develops some core concepts useful for those working on questions of public deliberation today. She also shows how deliberation informs debates that raged in political theory during her own era. She discusses the works of pluralists (Harold Laski), idealists (T. H. Green and Bernard Bosanquet), and pragmatists (William James) and makes important arguments about the relationship between socialism and democracy. Her work is marked by rigorous thinking about the implications of democratic principles as they relate to political and socioeconomic organization. This book articulates the formation of a “new state” growing out of the local activities of citizens and renews the American idea of "federalism" in order to balance local activities and national purposes. By doing this, Follett leaves us with a pathbreaking work that demands more attention today. With preliminary essays by Benjamin Barber and Jane Mansbridge, plus a historical introduction provided by Kevin Mattson, this reissued edition will be of use to scholars and activists who are currently working on issues of democratic participation, civic education, and public deliberation.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, Political Science

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1918

About the author

Mary Parker Follett was an American social worker, management consultant, philosopher and pioneer in the fields of organizational theory and organizational behavior.

Reviews

[Dr. Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, insightful, and compelling treatise on democracy that, to oversimplify, emphasized the need to correct fallacies (e.g., the individual/group/state are separate) in the interest of a holistic life as sought by organizing group will and thought, which in turn produces democracy. I appreciated her holistic bent and value for life, though she did border on being dramatic in her belief in the power of a person as a new kind of god. Includes historical context for her beliefs; mainly she seemed to believe that democracy is something as arbitrary as a vote between alternatives or representation (a republic actually), but overall was her treatise for creative citizenship, where creative is a life-giving force.

[Namrta Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this pathbreaking work invoking the power of individuals in a society, Mary Parker Follett envisages the principles of synergy between individuals as the basis of democratic evolution and creating the foundations of a ‘New State’.

The author views the democracy as not just aggregation of votes. Instead for her democracy is the aggrandization of creative will of everyone. According to her, a person is an aggregate of her interactions with other persons around her that shape her thinking. Thus, every individual is a part of the collective thinking and contributes to collective will. She emphasizes the importance of individuals as a part of whole in creating civil society. She describes democracy as an ultimate expression of this collective which will shape the New State. Democracy at present represent crowd that is manipulated by the politicians through emotions. Then there is the herd and the mob that act collectively but irrationally. She feels that group organization is the most significant for democracy as it works on associations. The people must aim for group associations to improve the outcomes of democracy for all. Group organizations provide a ground for exchanging views, understanding and growing together. Thus, integration originating from the grass root level through collective experiential learning can unite us all. Communities are a continuum of people and a continuum of communities’ form democracy. The democratic action begins with the neighborhood groups, according to her, that can extend to communities and states and nation and the world. National and international common will can be generated through this integrative process where every person is a contributor. Mary Parker Follet celebrates the differences, as these differences can bring better understanding and unison. This integrative process is at the heart of the author’s conflict resolution in every unit of the society. She illustrates this with many examples like two opposition parties voting on a bill or two advocates defending their clients or town planning. She advocates that the school should teach children about group association. Every student should have a contribution to make, however small it may be and grows up to be a part of the direct democracy.

The author’s work is seminal. It is a bible for scholars, students and policy makers deliberating on issues of inclusion, participation and civil society in public administration. The work provides an important insight into the fallacies of democracy and provides a way forward to for a holistic democracy through the creative will of people.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and idealistic view of democracy. Follett argues for the need to increase neighborhood/community organizing and reenergize civic participation. She wrote this book in 1918, but it is very much relevant today. The book rambles quite a bit and given it's very idealistic views of the world, it can be hard to digest some parts. Still a worthwhile read if you are interested in political theory or sociological and group behavior issues.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't really agree with a lot of aspects of her philosophy, but the passion and strength of the writing is immense, plus it gives a great historical perspective on progressivism and the new state ideals present in 20th century American thought.