Difference between community and association

Difference between community and association

Community and association are two important sociological concepts. Both are related to human social life.  An association is not a community but a group within a community. The differences between the two are as follows:-

1. Community has natural growth. It is a form of grouping which arise spontaneously or naturally. Association, on the other hand is artificially created by men to satisfy some motive or cause.

2. Community is organic, spontaneous, and creative but association is mechanical, artificial and held together by ties and compromises.

3. Community is not formed for a particular purpose or aim. No association is formed without any aim or purpose. No association can maintain its identity without any distinct aim and object.

4. Community is “a focus of social life”. It is regarded as integral or whole because it fulfils all the needs of its members. However, an association is “an organization of social life”. People regard an association as partial because they form it for a particular purpose or aim.

5. People form an association for their own interests, and hence they may form a number of associations within a community.
   According to MacIver, association is not a community but it is an organization within a community.

6. Members of a community are permanent in nature. Membership of community has wider significance and compulsory. However, the membership of an association has a limited significance. It is voluntary as members of association withdraw their membership when they lose interest in it.

7. Community sentiment is compulsory to constitute a community.One cannot imagine a community without we-feeling.
   However, sentiment is not at all basic requirement to form an association.

8. A community is not temporary or short-lived. It is a permanent organization or durable social group. A community continues as long as members are there.

   However, people may form an association on the basis of duration; they may create it as temporary or permanent, like a flood relief association which is temporary, and a State which is permanent.

9.    In community it is compulsory to have people born into it.  In association it is  voluntary to have people born into it.

10.   In Community community sentiments are necessary . In association community sentiments are not necessary.

11. It arises spontaneously or naturally. People create it artificially or make it themselves.

12. It is organic, spontaneous and creative. It is artificial and mechanical.

13.  It is a focus of Social Life. It is an organization of social life.

14. People regard it as integral or whole. People regard it as partial or half.

15. It  fulfils all the needs of its members . People regard it as the pursuit of specific interest.

16. There are different community in a society. There are associations within a society.

17.  Community membership is wider. Association membership has limited significance.