Tönnies and civil society: Origins of a modern concept of the state Cover Image

Tönnies i społeczeństwo cywilne: Źródła nowoczesnej koncepcji społeczeństwa
Tönnies and civil society: Origins of a modern concept of the state

Author(s): Paweł Załęski
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Uniwersytet Łódzki - Wydział Ekonomiczno-Socjologiczny
Keywords: Civil society; Civil code; Community

Summary/Abstract: While reading a Polish translation of Community and Society of Ferdinand Tönnies one may conclude that it is associationism that constitutes the main attribute of modern society. It is so because translator decided to write about association instead of society in a place of a word Gesellschaft. However, closer lecture makes one come to the conclusion that in his book Tönnies referred not only to the society but to a special kind of society – a civil society, that was also described as an economic society. According to Tönnies it is not associationism but economic activity that is a main attribute of the modern society.

  • Issue Year: VII/2011
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 72-83
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Polish