Communautés

Communautés refers to groups of people who share something in common, such as place, interests, values, or identities. The term derives from the Latin communitas, meaning fellowship or sharedness. It is used across sociology, anthropology, and political science to describe social organization based on belonging and mutual recognition.

In everyday use, communauté can denote geographic communities (a neighborhood or town), professional or interest-based communities (teachers’ associations, local business groups), religious communities (monastic orders, congregations), or online communities formed by shared activities or topics.

In France, the term also has a technical meaning in local administration. Intercommunalities organize cooperation among neighboring municipalities to manage services and development more efficiently. Forms include communautés de communes, communautés d’agglomération, communautés urbaines, and métropoles, each with its own governing council composed of delegates from member communes and led by a president or executive body. These structures handle competencies such as economic development, housing, transport, and urban planning.

Online, communities are sustained by platforms that enable communication, content sharing, and collective action. Governance of online communities involves rules, moderation, and community norms to balance freedom of expression with safety and cohesion. Privacy, inclusivity, and representation are common policy concerns.