"A community needs the attracting power of a greater sense of purpose.."

Indeed: a "sense of purpose" is the key for making a community or a team to tick. There was a thought-provoking article few days ago about the ball boys in Wimbledon in the Financial Times.

The core argument was that despite of draconian training regime for the aspirant ball boys, that there is no pay, and total anonymity is the norm, teenagers flock to become ball boys. Quoting the article:

"It is about being part of something wonderful. It is understanding that a valuable institution rests on the perfect behaviour of everyone who works there."

The meaning of "sense of purpose" and also "perfect behavior" for the citizens of Rome and wannabe ball boys is definitely not the same. But once such a sense is there, the results can be marvelous. Whether in an army-like ball boy organization or in a complex social network like a modern metropolis.

Link to the quoted FT article: Lucy Kellaway's column at http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/333450c8-c15d-11e1-8eca-00144feabdc0.html#axzz208AP20nz (registration needed)