Community Studies

Name: Emma Burwell
Module: Community Studies
Word Count: 2049

‘Explore the ways in which we can understand the concept of ‘community’. By Emma Burwell.

The purpose of this essay is to explore the ways in which we can understand the concept of ‘community’. In doing so the essay will aim to introduce community with its many definitions and articulate a discussion around its ambiguous hidden meanings. The essay will explore theoretical perspectives such as Durkheim and Tonnies, to help elaborate on the many connotations attached to the concept of community. In doing so the essay will highlight qualitative evidence with regards to both
It could be argued that in fact ‘mechanical’ communities produced ‘too much community’ (Willmott & Young, 1957, p.2) meaning that these boundaries could be stifling for the individual, overbearing and hard to conform to the rules of the general population in their community. It can also be noted that within such ‘mechanical’ communities this over ‘romanticised’ sense of custom, values and beliefs could still be perceived in a negative way, for where there is inclusion and exclusive membership there is also exclusion and non membership. It could therefore be suggested in the ‘Gemeinschaft’, ‘mechanical’ communities there are strong boundaries and should you not form part of the locality or the kinship ties you were seen as outsiders. Also it could be suggested, should such boundaries of general regulations be overstepped by one within its own community, the hostility which manifests within the residents of the ‘mechanical’ community can become quite ferocious. As Willmott and Young (1957) stated this type of community has disadvantages ‘If you know other people’s business, they know yours. Feuds may be all the more bitter for being contained in such a small place’
It could be suggested that social capital is that which refers mostly to the connections among individuals living within a community. By engaging in social networks and attending certain institutions within the community in turn can promote trust between the individuals, McDonnell (2004) states ‘Ultimately, it becomes a shared set of values and expectations within society as a whole’ (p.29). It could be suggested that McDonnell is stressing the importance of individuals within a certain community, regardless of kinship and race, should attend some form of social club or activity to help strengthen the bonds, which helps promote trust and acceptance between individuals creating what’s known as social capital. It could be argued that political parties use the notion of community and social capital with vested interest depending on the current issues within society at that time, as Rose states ‘community becomes governmental when it is the instrument through which governments focus their strategies for controlling and regulating social conduct’ (Rose, cited in Moony & Neal, 2009, p.24). In other words the concept of community from a political perspective is that of a tool used by politicians to either support or oppose the ongoing issues in Modern British Society, therefore the concept of