Diversities in communities

Diversities in communities. HUMSS_CSC12-IIIa-c-4

Lesson Objective: The learners will be able to analyze functions of communities in terms of structures,
dynamics, and processes.

Community Dynamics:
Is the process of change, growth, and development in communities involving all of its members. It gives us
an understanding of the communities’ needs, members’ involvement and decision making, social network,
services, and policies present and needed for the continuous progress of the community.
 The dynamics of a community are determined by its nature and structure and how it reacts with
external or internal forces.
The Nature of Community
1. Community as Sociological Construct
Sociology – The study of development, structure, and functioning of human society.

Not only is the concept of a community a “construct” (model), but it is also a “sociological construct.” It is a
set of interactions, human behaviours that have meaning and expectations between its members. Not just
action, but actions based on shared expectations, values, beliefs and meanings between individuals.

2. A community has fuzzy Boundaries.

Example: When a community is a little village separated by few kilometers from other villages in a rural
area, its boundaries appear at first to be very simple. However, if the residents interact with people outside
the village, they may, for example, marry people from other places and move or bring a spouse in to live
with them. At any given time, those village residents may have sisters, brothers, cousins, parents and
relatives living elsewhere. The boundary of the community is no longer that precise.
3. A community can exist within a larger community.
There may be communities within larger communities, including districts, regions, ethnic groups,
nations, and other boundaries. There may be marriages and other interactions that link the villages
of a nation together.

4. A community may move.

When technology is not based on local horticulture, the community residents may be physically
mobile. They may be nomadic herders walking long distances with their cattle. They may be mobile
fishing groups who move from time to time to where the fish are available. They may be hunters
who move to follow the game.
  A community can be considered like an organism because it can function even if people come and
go (Bartle, 2010).
 Bartle (2010), further pointed out that a community is a super organic organism or system made
up of thoughts, outlooks, and conduct of individual human beings with full of divisions and conflict
brought about by differences in religion, ethnicity, gender, access to resources, class etc.

Structure of Community Power

Community power structure is about the distribution of power at the local community level.
Power in a community is the capacity to influence the decision making and distribution processes, bring
about change and get things done.
BASES OF LOCAL COMMUNITY POWER
 CONNECTIONS – Capacity to create linkages and develop helpful relationships with powerful
individuals, family, and organization.
 Power in Number – Indicate or signifies base, backup and support.
 Rewards – Being able to provide awards, promotion, money and gifts that are useful to meet
individual or organizational goals.
 Personal Traits /expertise – Capacity to foster respect and loyalty based on charm, talents, and
skills.
 Legitimate Power- Possesses a leadership title or higher organizational or institutional position.
 Information – The ability to keep or share information.
 Coercion – Influence through manipulation and coercion.