Definiendo y teorizando el significado de comunidad de lugar en la era de la globalización

Abstract

Despite being the typical word that, like democracy, culture or development, is easily intelligible when used in everyday language; the definition of community within the discourse of the social sciences contemplates some difficulties. The objective of this chapter is to make a brief overview of the theoretical evolution of the word “community” within sociology, as well as reflect on its meaning in the globalization and information era. Tönnies' conceptualization of community or gemeinschaft as a natural way of social relations had an enormous impact on the development of the discipline itself. As the flow of communications and exchanges between members of traditional communities and the external world increased, many wanted to conclude the old sociological debate around industrialization and community disruptions. Far from being so, recent theoretical developments have brought about a revitalization of the concept of community and its ability to explain contemporary social processes. The place-based community is a place of socio-spatial identification where interactions are consciously established to potentially face the disintegrating effects of globalization.