'If you can't kill the guru': sustaining communities in the face of bureaucratic dominance

Intentional communities need to survive beyond the influence of charismatic leaders. This paper reports on the dilemma state government agencies face when they attempt local community building projects with a style reminiscent of the approach taken by charismatic leaders in intentional communities. The first part reviews the Victorian government's approach to community building, the second part questions why the state governments persists with this work, the third reviews the effectiveness of community building activities and finally the fourth part outlines what state governments can do to create positive outcomes with local community building activities.