We show that if actions more general than the usual simple plaquette a
ction (similar to F-mu nu(2)) are considered, then compact U(1)pure ga
uge theory in three Euclidean dimensions can have two phases. Both pha
ses are confining phases; however, in one phase the monopole condensat
e spontaneously ''magnetizes.'' For a certain range of parameters the
phase transition is continuous, allowing the definition of a strong co
upling continuum limit. We note that these observations have relevance
to the ''fictitious'' gauge field theories of strongly correlated ele
ctron systems, such as those describing high-T-c superconductors.