Are the Amish Becoming More Like the Hutterites?

Research related to the survival of the Old Order Amish and the Hutterites is reviewed. Descriptions of Amish culture and Hutterite culture are presented as is a discussion of the conceptual models used by scholars to understand these societies. Boundary maintenance mechanisms for both groups are examined and their impact on group survival is assessed. The Amish are increasingly modifying their economic practices to include the operation of small businesses while maintaining traditional social arrangements. The scholarly literature indicates both groups are surviving while their cultural identities change due to the manipulation of boundary maintenance mechanisms.