Defining Community

There are many definitions of community. As early as the 1950s, one scholar identified over 90 discrete definitions of community in use within the social science literature (Hillery, 1955). Warren characterized community as (1) space, (2) people, (3) shared values and institutions, (4) interaction, (5) distribution of power, and (6) social system. Conceptualizations of community may be derived from each of these six themes. No matter what definition is selected, concepts such as space, people, interaction, and shared identity are repeated over and over again. 

One of the most cited definitions of community was provided by Warren (1978), who viewed community as the organization of social activities that affords people access to what is necessary for day-to-day living, such as the school, grocery store, hospital, house of worship, and other such social units and systems. Many people customarily think of social units as beginning with the domestic unit, extending to the neighborhood or to a voluntary association, and expanding to larger spheres of human interaction. Community may or may not have clear boundaries, but it is significant because it performs important functions necessary for human survival.

Readings

Bessant, K. C. (2018). The Relational Fabric of Community. Palgrave Macmillan.

Netting, F. E., Kettner, P. M., McMurtry, S. L., & Thomas, M. L. (2017). Social Work Macro Practice (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.