American Union of Associationists

The American Union of Associationists (AUA) was a national organization promoting Charles Fourier's economic ideas in the United States, formed in 1846 in New York City. It served as a federation of local Fourierist groups and published materials like *The Harbinger* magazine and over 70 books and pamphlets to spread communitarian ideals among intellectuals. Despite its influence, the movement declined rapidly due to the failure of practical Fourierist experiments, leading to the AUA's dissolution by the late 1840s.

Fourierism gained popularity in the U.S. after Albert Brisbane's *Social Destiny of Man* was published in 1840 and his column in the *New York Tribune*. American Fourierists were divided between "pure" Fourierists like Brisbane, who advocated for large, well-funded phalanxes (communes), and practical communitarians such as George Ripley, who focused on smaller, cooperative efforts. Brook Farm, a transcendentalist experiment near Boston, exemplified the latter approach.

The 1840s saw a surge in Fourierist activity, with over two dozen Associations launching in the Northeast and Midwest between 1843 and 1844. However, most failed due to underfunding and poor organization. Regional conferences were held to coordinate efforts, including the 1844 "General Convention of the Friends of Association," but these ultimately did not stem the decline. By 1849, *The Harbinger* ceased publication, marking the end of the AUA's active period.

Key figures like Brisbane, Ripley, and William Channing influenced the movement, and although it faded, its ideas left a lasting impact on utopian thought in America.