Suchergebnisse

Multicultural & ethnoracial realities are examined in relation to the relatively new ethos of pluralism in the US, focusing on the extent to which ethnic & cultural divisions will affect the political & civil order of democracy. The growth of pluralistic ideas after WWII is traced, & the emergence of ethnicity as a central aspect of people's identities & as a common focus for community life is discussed. It is contended that the emergence of ethnicity, in concert with the proliferation of pluralist ideals, has resulted in a deeper politicization of society, a restructuring of the foundations of group formation & personal identities, & a rethinking of the bases of civil society.

An exploration of how the terms "community" & "fraternity" are used & perceived today. While the original, religious dimension of community has never been universalized socially, it has found a place in sociological usage. Herman Schmalenbach's essay "Communion -- A Sociological Category" (see On Society and Experience: Selected Papers, Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 1977) illustrates the transition from a religious communion in a spiritual relationship to a modern secular one in a social relationship. Among new expressions of communal forms are a currently diluted form of ethnicity & rejection of modern trends (eg, fraternization around nuclear protest, abortion, environmental issues). Despite boundless possibilities for fraternization, it is concluded that modern civilization is not a community, although US experience in practicing fraternization within a secular world is aiming toward it. 4 References. J. White