The Individual/State Axis

Abstract

At this point the reader has hopefully garnered an understanding of the image of community informing contemporary social science engagement with the topic. In relation to particular authors, some objections have been raised as to aspects of their approach. As Fraser observes (Fraser 1999, p. 60), ‘community’ is a tricky concept, ambiguous, incapable of agreement, permeated with value judgements, contradictorily, emotionally powerful yet somehow incapable of social science encapsulation’. Like most commentators however, Fraser notes the problem without appearing to be interested in why.