# Endnotes explained — The New State

> Chapter companion for The New State by Mary Parker Follett.

## What happens

The endnotes provide cross-references and clarifications on key concepts such as group process, sovereignty, political pluralism, the distinction between organic and psychic theories of society, and the critique of crowd psychology. They also address the nature of loyalty, purpose, and the integration of individual and group will, while warning against fallacies in syndicalism and the herd instinct.

## Themes in this chapter

### Group Process as the Foundation of True Democracy

The endnotes emphasize that group process is the basis of sovereignty and that genuine democracy arises from integration, not majority rule or herd behavior.

### Rejection of Crowd Psychology and Mass Rule

Notes critique syndicalist crowd fallacies and the herd instinct, arguing that man's true nature is not expressed in the herd.

### Critique of Individualism and Particularism

The notes argue that free speech is not an individual right but a societal need, and that loyalty is to the group idea, not to group personnel.

### The Unifying State vs. Political Pluralism

The endnotes address pluralist fallacies and argue for a sovereignty that evolves through genuine group integration, rejecting the idea of a dominant One outside.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

Provides explanatory notes and cross-references throughout the endnotes.

### We the People

Referenced as the collective that must judge schemes for occupational representation and as the subject of group process.

### Harold Laski

Mentioned in the context of consent and sovereignty; his views are distinguished from the author's hopes for future sovereignty.

### William James

Cited for the idea that the process of life is to 'compenetrate.'

### Hegel

Referenced in a note about the 'reconciliation of opposites' and the Hegelian sense of the term.

### Mr. Laski

Noted as an exception among writers on 'consent,' focusing on actual facts of today.

## Key lines

> Loyalty is always to the group idea not to the group-personnel. This must change our idea of patriotism.

True loyalty is directed toward the concept of the group as a whole, not toward its individual members, which should transform our understanding of patriotism.

_This note redefines loyalty and patriotism in terms of group psychology._

> Free speech is not an 'individual' right; society needs every man's difference.

Freedom of speech is not a personal privilege but a societal necessity because diversity of thought benefits the whole community.

_This note critiques individualism by framing free speech as a social good._

> A social will never is born in the brain of a man.

A collective will cannot originate from a single individual's mind; it emerges from group interaction.

_This note underscores the group process as the source of social will._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/endnotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_new_state_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters