Gemeinschaft, Gesellschaft, Anomie, and Modern Society

Introduction

This paper addresses four foundational questions in sociological theory. First is the definition of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft. Second is the definition of anomie and the conditions under which it may develop. Third is a discussion of how sociology can be seen as developing from a concern about the loss of community. Finally, the paper examines how social relationships in modern society differ from those of feudal society.

Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

German sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies introduced Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft as sociological categories to describe two normal types of human association. Tönnies discussed these terms in his work entitled Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft, first published in 1887. His second edition, printed in 1912, was a success, and these two terms became well known — though often misunderstood — by German intellectuals prior to 1933 ("Gemeinschaft," 2004).

Gemeinschaft refers to an association in which the individual is oriented toward the larger group equally or more than toward their own self-interest. Additionally, individuals within a Gemeinschaft are guided by a common belief system that defines the appropriate behaviors and responsibilities of members — not only toward one another, but toward the association as a whole. These associations are marked by a "unity of will" (Tönnies, 2001, p. 22). According to Tönnies, the most perfect expression of Gemeinschaft is the family. However, he recognized that it could extend beyond the family to those sharing a common place or belief, including globally dispersed religious communities ("Gemeinschaft," 2004).

In contrast, Gesellschaft describes a state in which, for the individual, "the larger association never takes on more importance than individual self-interest," and members lack the same level of shared mores ("Gemeinschaft," 2004). Individuals act out of self-interest. A business, for example, is often composed of individuals who share very few beliefs, yet it is their common self-interest — earning money — that allows the enterprise to continue.

Anomie refers to the absence of law, rule, principle, or order. The term was first used by the Greeks to define anyone or anything opposed to rules, or to describe a condition in which existing laws were not being applied. The contemporary definition of anomie, however, differs from this original usage ("Anomie," 2004).

Anomie: Definition and Conditions

Émile Durkheim used the term anomie in his book examining the causes of suicide. He described it as a condition or malaise in individuals characterized by "an absence or diminution of standards or values, and an associated feeling of alienation and purposelessness" ("Anomie," 2004). This individual disorder can occur for two common reasons.

The first occurs when the surrounding society undergoes a significant financial change — whether positive or negative. The second occurs when there is a significant discrepancy between an individual's everyday practices and the ideological theories and values commonly held by society. Anomie can also manifest as a social disorder affecting groups that suffer from the lack of commonly recognized rules of conduct ("Anomie," 2004).

Conclusion

These four concepts — Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft, anomie, sociology's concern with community loss, and the contrast between feudal and modern social bonds — represent core themes in classical sociological thought. Together, they illustrate how sociologists from Tönnies and Durkheim to Comte and beyond have sought to understand what holds societies together and what drives them apart.