Community

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.

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

A Community is a Sociological Construct:
Not only is the concept of a community a "construct" (model), it is a "sociological construct." It is a set of interactions, human behaviours that have meaning and expectations between its members. Not just action, but actions based on shared expectations, values, beliefs and meanings between individuals.


13 Most Important Characteristics or Elements of Community

Some of the important characteristics or elements of community are as follows:

(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.



Rural Community

Rural communities are small, less dense and homogeneous

Rural areas are characterized with having small, tight-knit communities. where everyone knows everyone else,. Geographically small Villages or small towns are considered to be rural areas.
People know each other and are neighbors, friends, etc. Rural areas are classified according their small population and having farming abilities . Rural areas are more community based people and depend on social gatherings and other similar events.


Urban Community
Generally speaking, the urban communities are identified as large, dense and heterogeneous .