|Part of a series on| Owenism is the utopian socialist
philosophy of 19th century social reformer Robert Owen and his
followers and successors, who are known as Owenites. Owenism
aimed for radical reform of society and is considered a
forerunner of the cooperative movement. The Owenite movement
undertook several experiments in establishment of utopian
communities organized according to communitarian and cooperative
principles. One of the best known of these efforts, which were
largely unsuccessful, was the project at New Harmony, Indiana,
which started in 1825 and was abandoned by 1829. Owenism is also
closely associated with the development of the British trade
union movement, and with the spread of the Mechanics' Institute
movement. Economic thought  Owen’s economic thought grew out of
widespread poverty in Britain in the aftermath of the Napoleonic
Wars. His thought was rooted in seventeenth century English
"moral economy" ideals of “fair exchange, just price, and the
right to charity.” "Utopian socialist”