Icaria, a utopia born from dreams of equality and resolution of conflict, contained high-minded ideals and sought to develop perfection for mankind. Cabet’s writings placed him at the center of the community as he believed that providing a system of communal living would “put an end to all disorders, all vices…and will assure the most perfect public order.”[1] But despite the leadership’s and the community’s best intentions, they were unable to achieve such lofty goals. Human nature created the main barrier as a disconnect between Cabet’s teachings and the implementation of the ideals brought societal vices to the forefront of the community’s struggles. Conflict harrowed the Icarian communities as factions broke off due to frustration or disagreements in community structure. Ultimately, the group struggled with gendered roles in the work force, application of fraternity, and the implementation of the very communal constructs Cabet was determined to escape. The Icarian community, rooted in French Revolutionary idealism, dealt with a myriad of conflicts before eventually dissolving. While their attempts at utopic perfection were valiant, human nature itself proved to be stronger than the best intentions in developing community.
[1] Cabet, “Communist Creed (1841),” 152