As far as I'm aware there isn't a lot of anthropological evidence to support your view that primitive societies were any more violent than we are today. You see

As far as I'm aware there isn't a lot of anthropological evidence to support your view that primitive societies were any more violent than we are today. You seem to have a pretty dim view of human nature that may not be reflective of any kind of scientific reality. The article itself doesn't mention any episodes of "violence and abuse" in the communes so I'm not sure why you're pointing to that as a reason for their failure. As for the hippies, I think it's admirable that they actually made the effort to practice a different way of living, even if it was short lived. Very few people or movements are brave enough to even attempt such a radical experiment. The unfortunately common idea that the way we live now is the only way or the best way demonstrates a poverty of imagination.