Community

A community is a group of people who share something important, like a place, beliefs, values, or traditions. Communities can be found in real places, such as a country, village, town, or neighborhood, or even online through chats and social media. People in communities often feel connected because they care for one another, work together, and support each other's needs.

Communities help shape who we are. They influence our daily lives and roles in important parts of life, like family, government, and society. Even though most communities are smaller groups, the idea of community can also apply to bigger groups, such as whole nations, international communities, and groups formed online, known as virtual communities.

The word "community" comes from old languages, starting from Latin communitas, meaning "public spirit" or "commonness." Human communities often share goals, ideas, and needs, which helps bring people closer together and creates a strong sense of belonging.

Perspectives of various disciplines

Archaeology

Archaeologists study communities in two main ways. First, they look at places where people once lived, like old villages or towns. Second, they see communities as groups of people who lived close together and interacted with each other. Archaeologists often figure this out by studying things people made and used long ago, such as pottery and houses, to see who might have been part of the same community.

Ecology

In nature, a community is a group of different plants and animals that live and interact with each other. Ecologists study how these living things affect each other and their environment. They look at how species compete, hunt each other, or help one another. Big natural communities, like forests, can take care of themselves, while smaller ones, like fungi on a log, are part of larger systems.

Philosophy

Some thinkers have questioned old ideas about what a community should be, especially in our connected world. They want communities to be more open and include everyone. Many books have explored new ways to think about communities and belonging.

Semantics

The word “community” often makes people think of happiness and togetherness. But sometimes it can have other meanings, like when we talk about diseases spreading through a group.

Sociology

Early studies looked at small groups influenced by powerful people. Later, leaders and activists started paying more attention to community needs and interests.

Others

Some cultures, like the Shona in Zimbabwe, include beliefs about ancestral spirits when they think about their community.

Key concepts

Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

Main article: Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

In 1887, a German thinker named Ferdinand Tönnies talked about two ways people come together. One way is called Gemeinschaft, which means a close-knit group where people know each other well and share similar values. The other is called Gesellschaft, which is more about formal connections where people may not know each other as personally. Most groups have a mix of both.

Sense of community

Main article: Sense of community

In 1986, researchers McMillan and Chavis found that feeling like you belong to a group has four important parts: feeling you are part of the group, feeling that you can make a difference, having your needs met, and sharing feelings with others. This idea has been used in many places like schools and workplaces.

Studies show that young adults who feel they belong to a community are often happier and healthier.

Socialization

Main article: Socialization

Learning how to behave in a group is called socialization. This starts when we are very young, learning from our families. As we grow, we also learn from school, friends, and other places we spend time. These experiences help us understand how to act and get along with others. Important habits like being kind, fair, and trusting help us connect with our community.

Development

Community development helps improve the well-being of people in local areas, regions, or even whole countries. It often involves working with groups, governments, or organizations to support communities. Some efforts come from the ground up, called community building or organizing, where people learn skills to make changes in their own areas. These skills help people work together for common goals.

Universities offer programs to teach about community development. These programs cover topics like public administration, sociology, and community studies. Community building can involve simple activities like potlucks or book clubs, or larger projects that include many people. Organizers work to make sure everyone has a voice and that decisions benefit the whole community.

Types

People can group together in many ways to form communities. One way to look at communities is by where they are located. This can be as small as a neighbourhood, suburb, village, town, or city, or as large as a whole country or even the entire world. These are often called communities of place.

Communities can also be formed around shared identities. This includes groups like ethnic group, religious groups, or people who share a common way of life, such as disabled persons. These are known as communities of identity.

Another way communities form is through organizations. These can be informal groups like family or clubs, or more formal groups such as incorporated associations or professional groups.

Some communities are created with a specific purpose in mind. These intentional communities might have a shared goal, such as spiritual growth or living in an environmentally friendly way, and can include places like monasteries, ecovillages, and housing cooperatives.

Internet communities

Main article: Virtual community

Virtual communities are groups of people who connect online to share ideas and information. These groups often focus on specific topics, such as hobbies, jobs, or sports. People in these communities can become friends and work together, even if they live far apart.

However, sharing information online can sometimes lead to unkind behavior, especially among younger users. While there are rules to help keep everyone safe, preventing such behavior can be challenging for websites and companies.