Full Idea
Pre-modern societies are based on community (Gemeinschaft), whereas modern societies are based on association (Gesellschaft).
Gist of Idea
Early societies are based on community, and modern societies on association
Source
report of Ferdinand Tönnies (Community and Association [1887]) by Peter Watson - Ideas Ch.32
Book Reference
Watson,Peter: 'Ideas: from fire to Freud' [Phoenix 2006], p.888
A Reaction
A very interesting distinction. The modern term implies contracts, and it strikes me as an extremely accurate description of modern liberal democracies. There is very little sense of community, but a strong sense of innumerable contracts that bind us.