communitas

Communitas is a concept in social anthropology, most associated with Victor Turner. It denotes a spontaneous, egalitarian sense of community that can arise when normal social structures are suspended, such as during rites of passage. It is contrasted with structured society and organized institutions.

Turner described communitas as a temporary, in-between state in which participants in a liminal phase shed ordinary ranks and roles. In this zone, people experience intense solidarity, mutual aid, and a sense of shared humanity. Characteristics include immediacy, openness, improvisation, and a feeling of equality across status differences. Communitas is often described as anti-structure, though it can inform or reshape social life after rites. Victor Turner introduced and developed the concept in The Ritual Process (1969) and subsequent writings.

Contexts and examples: It is most often discussed in religious or ritual contexts—pilgrimages, festivals, initiations—but can also appear in protests, expeditions, or other large-scale gatherings. The experience is typically fleeting, yet memories or ties formed may influence future social relationships.

Critique: Some scholars argue that Turner’s portrayal idealizes communitas and underrecognizes power asymmetries and gendered dynamics. Nonetheless, the concept remains useful for analyzing moments of intense solidarity and egalitarian feeling that appear outside formal organizations.

Etymology and usage: The term comes from Latin communitas, meaning community or fellowship, and has been widely adopted in anthropology, sociology, religious studies, and cultural studies.