This warns that groups without structure or common purpose are vulnerable to those who are well-organized and unified. It highlights the importance of collective action and clear goals for any community to protect itself and achieve its aims against more powerful, cohesive forces.
Quote by John Dewey: “The community of the unorganized is always a potential prey to the organized.”
The community of the unorganized is always a potential prey to the organized.
Insight
Historical Context
In the wake of World War I and amid rising industrialization, Dewey critically examined the challenges to democracy posed by complex modern societies. He highlighted the vulnerability of fragmented populations to powerful, centralized interests, underscoring the need for informed public discourse and collective action.
About the Author
American philosopher, psychologist, and education reformer who is considered the father of progressive education in the United States. His 1916 work Democracy and Education argued that schools should teach students to participate in democratic life, not merely absorb facts.
View all quotes by John Dewey