The Sociology Book

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communal at the expense of the
individual. Tönnies’ contemporary
Émile Durkheim, on the other
hand, feared that modernity might
threaten social solidarity; for him,
individuals had to be social beings
whose ambitions and needs
coincided with the group.
Etzioni says that Gemeinschaft
communities also have drawbacks:
they can often be oppressive,
authoritarian, and hinder individual
growth and development. His
updated form of communitarianism
is designed to achieve the optimum
degree of equilibrium between the
individual and society, between
community and autonomy, and
between rights and responsibilities.
Etzioni argues that striking a
balance between individual rights
and community responsibilities is
essential, because one cannot exist
without the other. Moreover, he
claims that present-day Americans
have lost sight of the ways in which
the fortunes of the individual and
those of the community are bound
up with one another. Americans
have a strong sense of entitlement—
expectations that the community

will provide services, and respect

and uphold individual rights—but a

weakened sense of moral obligation

to the community, both local and

national. For example, most young

Americans claim that, if charged

with a crime, it is their inalienable

right to be judged by their peers, yet

only a small minority would be

willing to do jury service.

According to Etzioni, this major

decline in “social capital”—the

relations founded on the shared

values of reciprocity, trust, and a

sense of obligation—across US

AMITAI ETZIONI

Chinatowns, found in Western cities,

exemplify Etzioni’s community living.

Recreating this culture on foreign soil

is made possible by the inhabitants

upholding shared norms and values.

society has been brought about

by an excess of individualism

and is what makes it necessary,

more than ever, for the US to

adopt the moral principles

of communitarianism.

What is a community?

For Etzioni, communities are webs

of social relations “that encompass

shared meanings and above all

else shared values.” The views of

a community cannot be imposed

by an outside group or internal

minority, but must be “generated

by the members of community

in a dialogue that is open to

all and fully responsive to the

membership.” Etzioni’s community

is inherently democratic, and each

community is nested “within a

more encompassing one.” This

definition of community is

applicable to a variety of forms

of social organization, from micro

Moral anarchy, not the

excesses of community,

is the danger we

currently face.

Amitai Etzioni