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Introduction: The Enigma of Community

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Abstract

Community is one of the most highly debated concepts in the social sciences. The ubiquity with which the word “community” is mentioned in academic circles and everyday life illustrates its germaneness to lived experience. Theorists have proffered a plethora of definitions and analytical approaches in an effort to gain greater insight into the diverse nature of community. The notion of community is often framed in terms of place, interaction, and affective bonds, all of which are manifestations of social relations. This chapter examines competing interpretations of community set against a backdrop of social change dynamics and persistent contestation. The essential theme here and throughout the book is the relational foundations of community life.

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    Kenneth C. Bessant

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Bessant, K.C. (2018). Introduction: The Enigma of Community. In: The Relational Fabric of Community. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56042-1_1

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