Urban Communities and Associations. The Attempt of a Sociological Portrait

Abstract

Ferdinand Tönnies defined the sociological understanding of the community and the association. They are two forms of coexistence and cohabitation of people in the social space. These forms co-create the space of the cities, although in ancient times the communities were dominating, and today associations are more popular. Community means the internal homogeneity of the people in terms of values, norms or lifestyles. The basis of the community was and still is the family. On the other hand, associations are formed when people are differentiated, and what they associate is only a more or less long-lasting common goal. Looking at the cities of Upper Silesia, we can find both communities and associations in their space. However, the former are increasingly marginalized. Their existence was primarily connected with the existence of housing estates connected with the workplace, where residents shared a similar social position and equal lifestyle. Today, these settlements lose their original image as a result of the influx of “foreign” and their social and cultural pauperization. These are changing into closed housing estates – exclusive apartment buildings – in which the residents belong to the middle class. They are heterogeneous internally. In this context it is difficult to speak about the community, so the word association will be used.