Organic Solidarity refers to the social unit that is founded on a division of labor, thus, giving rise to interdependence among people. In addition, the culture identified above is characterized by four core attributes. These include a large population spreading out over a larger geographical area, a legal system that is based on restituting sanctions and redressing social vices by restoring a situation to the previous state, complex labor division, and a growing level of individual freedom. Gesellschaft is a further important social culture. It describes a form of association in which the interests of the individual members are deemed to be more important. Besides, the relationship between the members is impersonal. In addition, generally held or binding norms do not prevail. Furthermore, in a Gesellschaft community, the members detach from the sentimental and traditional concerns, often tending to be secular and rationalistic in their outlook. The residents of Atlanta, Georgia community usually portray several characteristics that prove the existence of organic solidarity and Gesellschaft social structures.
In Atlanta, Georgia, people’s status is mostly determined by occupation instead of kinship ties. This is one of the key features of organic solidarity. In the region under focus, According to Miller, Vandome, and John (2010), people serving in occupations that offer high levels of income are usually seen as belonging to the upper-class echelon. However, people that are in “not so high” and “not so low” income-earning professions are often termed as middle-class people. While this is the case, those that occupy the substandard income-earning professions and people with no source of income at all are usually described as poor. As a matter of fact, being employed in the middle income-earning professions does not mean that one belongs to the middle class. Instead, one might be well established, owning productive ventures and investments.
In Atlanta, Georgia, it has been identified that most people relate to each other impersonally. This necessarily means that the members of the community under question communicate and interact based on their social roles in an attempt to fulfill particular personal interests. For instance, most business people adopt informal and superficial interactions with their customers, covering socialization contexts that are only aimed at instigating a sale or any related transaction. Such a character is exhibited by the politicians in the region. It has been reported by researchers such as Miller, Vandome and John (2010) that most politicians, especially during campaigns, are known to interact with the voters in a way that signifies their election to the intended political post is the only interest prompting the communication. In the light of this, it is apparent that the Atlanta community practices a Gesellschaft social structure.
Further, Atlanta’s legal system stipulates that offenses shall be redressed by restoring the situation to the previous states. It is as a result of this rule that there are penal facilities such as rehabilitation centers and prisons. In Atlanta, where a criminal is found guilty of a specified crime, he or she is subjected to punitive measures such as incarceration or fines. In regard to incarceration, the idea is usually to help the offender to do away with his or her current behavior and instead adopt a more rational one (Miller, Vandome & John, 2010). Similarly, rehabilitation in Atlanta is meant restoring the right behavior for minor offenders including those individuals that commit crimes as a result of drug and alcohol abuse. This entire context reflects an organic solidarity social structure.
Reference
Miller, F. P., Vandome, A. F., & John, M. (2010). Culture of Atlanta. New York, NY: VDM Publishing
