commune

Commune is a term with at least two related but distinct meanings: an administrative division and a social or living arrangement. In France and some other countries, a commune is the lowest level of administrative division, with a municipal council elected for six years and a mayor who heads the council. Communes vary in size from small rural villages to major cities such as Paris, which comprise a single commune but operate within departments and regions. The responsibilities typically include local planning and zoning, civil registration, primary schools, local roads, and urban services. Communes are grouped into intercommunal structures to coordinate services.

In other contexts, a commune refers to a voluntary, cooperative living arrangement where members share property, resources, and decision-making. These intentional communities aim to minimize hierarchical authority, often using participatory or consensus-based governance. They arose in various eras, notably in 19th-century socialist movements and the 1960s counterculture, and continue in various forms worldwide. Some communes emphasize egalitarian economics, others focus on environmental sustainability or spiritual practice.

Historical example: the Paris Commune of 1871 was a radical government that briefly controlled Paris and implemented social reforms before being suppressed; it has become a reference point in discussions of revolutionary municipal governance.