Community

Community
The term community is one of the most elusive and vague in sociology and is by
now largely without specific meaning. At the minimum it refers to a collection of
people in a geographical area. Three other elements may also be present in any
usage.
(1) Communities may be thought of as collections of people with a particular social

structure; there are, therefore, collections which are not communities. Such a notion
often equates community with rural or pre-industrial society and may, in addition,
treat urban or industrial society as positively destructive.
(2) A sense of belonging or community spirit.
(3) All the daily activities of a community, work and non-work, take place within
the geographical area, which is self-contained. Different accounts of community will
contain any or all of these additional elements
We can list out the characteristics of a community as follows:
1. Territory
2. Close and informal relationships
3. Mutuality
4. Common values and beliefs
5. Organized interaction
6. Strong group feeling
7. Cultural similarity
Talcott Parsons defined community as collectivity the members of which share a

common territorial area as their base of operation for daily activities. According to
Tonnies community is defined as an organic natural kind of social group whose
members are bound together by the sense of belonging, created out of everyday
contacts covering the whole range of human activities. He has presented ideal-
typical pictures of the forms of social associations contrasting the solidarity nature
of the social relations in the community with the large scale and impersonal relations
thought to characterize industrializing societies. Kingsley Davis defined it as the
smallest territorial group that can embrace all aspects of social life. For Karl
Mannheim community is any circle of people who live together and belong together
in such a way that they do not share this or that particular interest only but a whole
set of interests.
Some of the important characteristics or elements of community are as

follows:
Meaning of community can be better understood if we analyze its characteristics or
elements. These characteristics decide whether a group is a community or not.
However, community has the following characteristics or elements:
(1) A group of people:
A group of people is the most fundamental or essential characteristic or element of

community. This group may be small or large but community always refers to a
group of people. Because without a group of people we can’t think of a
community, when a group of people live together and share a common life and
binded by a strong sense of community consciousness at that moment a community
is formed. Hence a group of people is the first pre-requisites of community.
(2) A definite locality:
It is the next important characteristic of a community. Because community is a

territorial group. A group of people alone can’t form a community. A group of
people forms a community only when they reside in a definite territory. The
territory need not be fixed forever. A group of people like nomadic people may
change their habitations. But majority community are settled and a strong bond of
unity and solidarity is derived from their living in a definite locality.
(3) Community Sentiment:
It is another important characteristic or element of community. Because without

community sentiment a community can’t be formed only with a group of people
and a definite locality. Community sentiment refers to a strong sense of awe
feeling among the members or a feeling of belonging together. It refers to a
sentiment of common living that exists among the members of a locality. Because
of common living within an area for a long time a sentiment of common living is
created among the members of that area. With this the members emotionally
identify themselves. This emotional identification of the members distinguishes
them from the members of other community.
(4) Naturality:
Communities are naturally organised. It is neither a product of human will nor

created by an act of government. It grows spontaneously. Individuals became the
member by birth.
(5) Permanence :
Community is always a permanent group. It refers to a permanent living of

individuals within a definite territory. It is not temporary like that of a crowd or
association.
(6) Similarity:
The members of a community are similar in a number of ways. As they live within
a definite locality they lead a common life and share some common ends. Among
the members similarity in language, culture, customs, and traditions and in many
other things is observed. Similarities in these respects are responsible for the
development of community sentiment.
(7) Wider Ends:
A community has wider ends. Members of a community associate not for the
fulfillment of a particular end but for a variety of ends. These are natural for a
community.
(8) Total organised social life:
A community is marked by total organised social life. It means a community

includes all aspects of social life. Hence a community is a society in miniature.
(9) A Particular Name :
Every community has a particular name by which it is known to the world.

Members of a community are also identified by that name. For example people
living in Odisha is known as odia.
(10) No Legal Status:
A community has no legal status because it is not a legal person. It has no rights
and duties in the eyes of law. It is not created by the law of the land.
(11) Size of Community:
A community is classified on the basis of it’s size. It may be big or small. Village
is an example of a small community whereas a nation or even the world is an
example of a big community. Both the type of community are essential for human
life.
(12) Concrete Nature:
A community is concrete in nature. As it refers to a group of people living in a

particular locality we can see its existence. Hence it is concrete.
(13) A community exists within society and possesses distinguishable structure

which distinguishes it from others

Community

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Community

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Community

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Community

(1) Communities may be thought of as collections of people with a particular social

(2) A sense of belonging or community spirit.

We can list out the characteristics of a community as follows:

Talcott Parsons defined community as collectivity the members of which share a

Some of the important characteristics or elements of community are as

(1) A group of people:

A group of people is the most fundamental or essential characteristic or element of

(2) A definite locality:

It is the next important characteristic of a community. Because community is a

(3) Community Sentiment:

It is another important characteristic or element of community. Because without

Communities are naturally organised. It is neither a product of human will nor

Community is always a permanent group. It refers to a permanent living of

(7) Wider Ends:

(8) Total organised social life:

A community is marked by total organised social life. It means a community

(9) A Particular Name :

Every community has a particular name by which it is known to the world.

(11) Size of Community:

(12) Concrete Nature:

A community is concrete in nature. As it refers to a group of people living in a

(13) A community exists within society and possesses distinguishable structure

You might also like