From Freemasons to Industrious Patriots. Organizing and Disciplining in 18th Century Germany

Abstract

Formal organizations or corporate actors came into existence in the 18th century. They required from their members a radical change in behaviour. At least some members had to be able to discipline themselves and to design organizations in order to discipline other members. Based on a review of theories of disciplinization, the question of how the early organizers acquired self-discipline and organizing skills, is pursued. Associations such as freemasons' lodges, reading societies, and patriotic societies which were founded in Germany in the 18th century are identified as the first formal organizations which provided their members with platforms for training in self-discipline and for experimenting with organizational rules. This paper attempts to reconstruct how, over time, these early organizations evolved towards a more rational organizational design, and how their members developed organizational behaviour.