Ideology: restrictive or expansive?

Some of the questions raised in reference to the Week 1 reading, included:

1. Can you have community in the city?

2. How vulnerable is it?

3. Is it 'organic' & anti-structure?

4. Can it be thought of as a safe-haven where individuals are nutured, or an ideal wherein individualism is diminished?

5. Does it subsume the individual? (i.e. in saying "united we stand")


Delanty notes that many of the popular theoretical frameworks surrounding community recognise that it can be defined as a term that sets and identifies clear boundaries between its members and other groups within society. While the late 19th century saw the term being defined as a cultural product rather than a political ideal, the twentieth century focused upon a more moral, rigid, traditional understanding of community, being at odds with the rogue-like influences of technology (and what we have come to understand as user-generated content).

[note: I have the rest of this & other posts saved to my work computer - to be retrieved and updated 20/3/2010]