Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft -Ferdinand Tönnies

Sociologist Tonnies, wrote on Community and Society types, human relationships, and social structures. He describes:

• Gemeinschaft: Close knit communities characterised by a sense of togetherness shared values and norms, collective social bond where everyone knows each other, has shared values and a sense of duty to community
• Gesellshaft: Impersonal, transactional, and self-interested communities

He suggests as societies modernise, communal bonds weaken giving way to more individualistic relationships.

His concepts have implications for individuals’ sense of identity and belonging, especially with globalisation, the rise of digital communities, urbanisation, modernisation, and the erosion of traditional communities. Here there is a tension between preserving ‘Gemeinschaft’ like bonds and embracing ‘Gesellshaft.’

Tonnies ideas are tools for understanding dynamics of social organisations under the impact of Modernisation. His work inspires reflection on the nature of human relationships identity and social change.

Its relevance to my work:

My ‘town’ (population only 1000) is rural and the ‘locals’ are traditional and close knit. However elements of Gesellshaft (self-interest) are more evident now than in time past. I would attribute this more to the rise of digital communities, than ‘incomers’ moving in. Though incomers bring elements of modernisation they are no more self-interested or lacking social conscience than the ‘locals.’ Certainly, during Covid 19 and continuing on using  social media the ‘locals’ hide behind comments and posts that are divisive and self-interested. This I evidenced in a previous body of work ‘Layers of Truth.’

Reference:

Sociologylearners (2023) Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft by Ferdinand Tönnies | Unveiling the Social Structures of Modernity. At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVmKi3g9DTw (Accessed 09/11/2024).