Which Social Science Concept Best Explains the Structure and Function of a Community?

Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft in Amish Community
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Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft in Amish community
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft is a classical concept that was developed by the German sociologist Ferdinand Toennies in the year 1887 (Aldous, Durkheim, & Tonnies, 1972). Tonnies defines Gemeinschaft as a group of individuals who associate themselves together because of common will, and natural authority and have the same homogeneity. The concept is greatly associated with rural, pre-industrial life in old age. On the other hand, Tonnies defines Gesellschaft as a society that is built on rationalism, choices, and heterogeneity. This concept of community is greatly attributed to the consequences of industrialization. The Old Order Amish community is identified to embody both concepts. The community has evolved from the Gemeinschaft way of living to Gesellschaft modern way of life.
The social changes that were being witnessed due to industrialization led to the development of the Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft concept of living by Ferdinand Tonnies. The author of the concept, Tonnies, had an interest in understanding the nature of social relationships and the impact of modernization within the communities. The Amish community has a deep-rooted old way of living, it was a great concept to study the transformation that the communities were realizing courtesy of industrialization. The development of the strategy was in addition influenced by urbanization and social change which was taking place worldwide. The concepts highlighted the social changes that were being witnessed through modernization and the change of the social structures.
The Amish community's way of living is a true testimony of Gemeinschaft's concept that upgraded to the Gesellschaft concept. The majority of the community is established through ties such as household, concept of kinship, blood ties, friendships, and neighborhood (Hustedde, 2009). Consequently, industrialization inspired changes which led to the introduction of the Gesellschaft concept of living. The Amish community's way of life has since changed. The distinctive way of life projected by these concepts has caused the Amish community to change from the old ways to modern ways.
The Amish community embodied the Gemeinschaft old way of living where the community cherished ties that existed among them. The Amish community is held together through honoring the Gemeinschaft concept while a significant number of the modern generation are believed to be guided by the Gesellschaft concept of community (Weber, 2010). As explained by the concept of Gemeinschaft, the main way of life for the Amish community was through agriculture and craftsmanship. A simple lifestyle that honored communal ties. The emphasis on close-knit fami...