fællesskabet

Fællesskabet, literally “the community” or “the fellowship,” is a Danish noun that denotes a sense of shared life, solidarity and social cohesion within a group, a locality, or a nation. The term derives from fælles (common) and skab (a state or condition), with fællesskabet defined as the state of being in common.

The concept covers both everyday social bonds—trust, mutual aid, shared norms—and the institutions that sustain collective life, such as families, schools, associations, workplaces, and the welfare system. It is frequently used in political and sociological contexts to discuss how people live together and support one another.

In public debate, fællesskabet is often invoked in relation to welfare policies, taxation, and civic responsibility. Proponents see it as the basis for social security and a fair society, while critics caution against overemphasizing the collective at the expense of individual choice.

Historically central to Danish discussions of the welfare state and social cohesion, the term appears in both social-democratic rhetoric and communitarian arguments. In everyday language, it also describes local communities, neighbourhood life, and voluntary associations, emphasizing cooperative norms and mutual obligation.

Today, fællesskabet remains a flexible and contested ideal in Denmark, shaping debates about social policy, cultural belonging, and civic life. It is closely linked to notions of social welfare, solidarity, and the common good.