Fourierist Phalanx of Brook Farm

What do I find interesting about this group of people? what more do I need to know to situate this community in the problem or context of utopia?

Even though Charles Fourier diligently recorded every detail of his communal vision, he only witnessed failed and misguided attempts at bringing his vision to fruition. If Fourier’s plan includes such precise details, then why did these cooperatives fail? Guarneri suggests that Fourier’s emphasis on “Immediatism” in implementing the plan hindered any potential of success because such an instantaneous approach was impossible considering the circumstances. But if Fourier was such an innovative and calculated thinker then why would he propose a plan that could not be fulfilled?

I am curious if Fourier’s “scientific” theory is actually flawed or if the movement’s leaders failed to accurately implement his ideas. Guarneri’s commentary on Brook Farm and the other 19^th century American phalanxes suggests that a combination of both unsound ideology and misguided leadership led to the short-lived phalanxes.

When Brisbane and other American Fourierists adopted and edited the theory, they were left with three main ideas: “a critique of present-day society, a community plan, and an overlay of propaganda harmonizing Fourierism with prevalent American beliefs.” The most intriguing of these remaining ideas is the idea that American Fourierists used propaganda to make their master’s plan more appealing to the average 19^th century American. With only one introductory report, it is unclear if the leaders misrepresented Fourier’s phalanx plan in any way or if they simply communicated the existing parallels between Fourierist values and American ideals such as “self-government, personal freedom, equity, and social progress.” Charles Fourier’s manifesto likely includes all of the aforementioned principles in some manner but his personal perspective and use of these ideals may differ from that of the average American. Numerous 19^th century utopian socialists included these ideals in their proposals for potential utopian societal structures, but because the each had a personal perspective, they produced independently unique utopian communities. If Fourier and the movement’s leaders held differing perspectives, it could indicate a distinction between Fourier’s vision and the vision Brisbane and his colleagues supported and advocated for which would have contributed to the failure of the American phalanxes like Brook Farm.

Did Albert Brisbane and other Fourierists purposely deceive Americans by consciously exaggerating the apparent compatibility between the phalanx plan with American ideals? If so, does this mean the American Fourierists thoroughly comprehended Fourier’s theory? Or were these movement leaders forced to compromise on certain aspects of the phalanx plan?