Gemeinschaft
Quick Summary
The term "Gemeinschaft" refers to a type of social relationship characterized by strong, spontaneous bonds of sentiment and kinship within a shared tradition. This concept, contrasted with "Gesellschaft" (associational society), was elaborated by sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies.12
Gemeinschaft is typically found in rural, traditional societies where relationships are personal, direct, and governed by natural will and emotion. In contrast, Gesellschaft is typical of modern, urban societies, driven by rational will, self-interest, and impersonal, indirect relationships.2
A specific, and deeply problematic, application of this concept was the Nazi "Volksgemeinschaft," which aimed for a racially unified and hierarchical society where individual interests were subordinate to the nation, or Volk. This ideology led to severe discrimination and the Holocaust.3
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