1929 – 2023
Amitai Etzioni (1929–2023) was an American-Israeli sociologist and philosopher best known as the founder of the communitarian movement. He argued that liberal individualism, unchecked by communal bonds, erodes the social fabric necessary for a functioning democracy. His work sought to articulate a third way between radical individualism and authoritarianism, emphasizing shared values, civic responsibility, and the moral voice of community.
Founded the communitarian movement and the Communitarian Network (1990s)
Authored The New Golden Rule (1996), proposing a balance between autonomy and social order
Critiqued atomistic liberalism for undermining the communal prerequisites of a free society
Established The Responsive Community journal as a platform for communitarian policy debate
Influenced public policy discussions on civil society, social capital, and moral culture