ASSOCIATION
Meaning of Association
A social animal man always lives in groups. Association is a kind of social group which has much sociological importance. Association is the characteristic of a modern complex society. It also had its existence in primitive and agrarian societies. Human beings have a bundle of needs and interests. Though it is impossible to fulfill these needs and interests, he still made several attempts to fulfill these. From the beginning of human civilization, he has been trying to fulfill all his needs and interests. Maclver and Page opine that man mainly follows three ways to fulfill his needs and interests. First, man acts independently without considering others. Secondly, he fulfills himself by conflict. Thirdly, he fulfills his interests through cooperation and mutual assistance. Hence when people take the help of others or a group of people to organize themselves to achieve common interest, an association is formed. Men satisfy their variety of needs and interests by establishing different associations. As there are manifold needs, hence there are various associations.
Association is an organized group of people to pursue a specific purpose or the fulfillment of a variety of needs. But the mere organization of a group of people without some common purpose does not form an association. Associations are deliberately formed according to some fixed rules for the fulfillment of some common interest or interests. Associations are established formal organizations. Associations offer membership and elect or choose their officials for smooth functioning. Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Rotary Club, and Political parties are an example of association.
Famous Sociologist F. Tonnies, Max Weber, and Maclver have made an important contribution to the development of the association. Tonnies opine that those groups which are formed to protect the interests of public life are called associations. Similarly, Maclver opines groups organized to protect special interests are called associations. But to have a complete understanding of the term, let us look at its definitions.
Definition of Association
According to Maclver, “An organization deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of some interest or set of interest, which the members of it share, is termed as association.”
According to P. Gisbert, “Association is a group of people united for a specific purpose or limited number of purposes.”
According to E. S. Bogardus, “Association is usually working together of people to achieve some purposes.”
According to Morris Ginsberg writes, “An association is a group of social beings related to one another by the fact that they posses or have instituted in common an organization with a view to securing specific end or specific ends.”
According to Gillin and Gillin, “An association is a group of individuals united for a specific purpose or purposes and held together by recognized or sanctioned modes of procedure or behaviour.”
According to G. D. H. Cole says, “By an association I mean any group of persons pursuing a common purpose by a course of corporative action extending beyond a single act and for this purpose agreeing together upon certain methods of procedure, and laying down, in however, rudimentary a form, rule for common action.”
The essential characteristics or elements of an association are as follows
Several essential characteristics characterize association. These characteristics are mentioned below:
A group of people:
An association is a group of people who have some common objectives. Without a group of people, no association can be formed. Hence, a group of people is important.
Common interests:
An association does not refer to any ordinary group of people; rather, it refers to an organized group of people. When a group of people organized themselves for the pursuit of some common interest, an association is formed. Hence association is called an organized group. There are certain rules which guide people.
Common aims and objectives:
It is the most important characteristic of association. Because association does not refer to a mere collection of human beings, it refers to those groups of individuals who have common aims and objectives. All members try to achieve common objectives. Hence association is a means to achieve common objectives. For example, people having similar political objectives may join a particular political party.
Some rules and regulations:
The organization of an association rests upon a particular set of laws. These laws are necessary for regulating the conduct of members belonging to an association. The members of an association follow these rules and regulations.
Co-operative Spirit:
An association is based on the cooperative spirit of its members. People work together to achieve some common purposes. It gives opportunities to its members to work together to achieve some common purposes. This cooperative spirit helps them to realize their objectives. When this spirit is lacking, there is no cooperation and no association.
Voluntary membership:
The membership of an association is voluntary. People voluntarily join an association for the achievement of their desired objectives. They can also withdraw their membership according to their wishes. Similarly, no one can compel them to be a member of any association, but he has to obey the association’s rules and regulations.
Degree of permanency:
The degree of permanency varies from association to association. Some associations may be temporary, whereas some are permanent. There exist some long-lived associations like family or state. Similarly, there exist some temporary associations like flood relief associations.
Legal Status:
Association is an organized social group that has responsible members. This shows that the association has a legal status. It can sue and be sued. Legal action can also be taken against the members as well as officials if disobey its rules and regulations.
Office bearers:
An association has office bearers who manage its affairs and guide its functioning. These office bearers are elected for a definite period of time by their members.
Artificial nature:
Association is an artificial creation. It is man-made in nature. Some individuals deliberately form associations to fulfill their common objectives. It does not grow naturally or spontaneously. There exists no natural bond between the members of the association. Rather there exists a bond of self-interest.
Limited significance:
Membership of an association has limited significance. Because the association is a temporary group organized for the fulfillment of specific interests of its members. It has significance for its members so far it servers their purpose. When it fails to serve its purpose, it loses its significance.
Thus, we conclude that association is a group within society or a community. It is a formal organization as its membership is formal. But all formal organizations like the army are not associations. Formal rules and regulations guide association. Hence though, the association seems like a formal organization, but in reality, it is not so. But both associations and formal organizations are the product of modern industrial society and new political systems. At present, association plays a very important role in the new socio-economic and political setup.
Difference between an Association and an Institution
Though in day-to-day discourses, the term institution is often used as a synonym to the word association, there are still many differences between the two. Human being forms associations to fulfill their aims and objectives. Along with this, he forms some rules, regulations, and procedures, which is known as an institution. However, the following differences are found between the two.
Association refers to an organized group of people having definite aims. But institutions are forms of procedures and ways of doing things.
State, Flood relief association, political parties are examples of association, whereas college, family, marriage, etc. are examples of institutions.
Association lacks stability and temporary, whereas institutions are stable and permanent.
Association represents human aspects because it is comprised of human beings. When a group of people organizes themselves to fulfill some specific aims, an association is formed. But institutions refer to a social condition of conduct and behaviour. Because institutions consist of rules, regulations, laws, and procedures.
Associations are concrete because it has their form. But institutions are abstract because it does not have a concrete design and have no form.
Associations are things and denote membership, whereas institutions are modes or ways of service or ways of doing things. Men form an association and live in them, but he acts through institutions. In other words, an institution gives life to the association.
Associations are formed to fulfill man’s needs and necessities, whereas institutions grow naturally and spontaneously.
Association is an organized group, whereas an institution refers to the organized way of doing things and working.
Association has a specific name by which it is known, but the institution does not have any name; rather, it identifies itself through a symbol which may be material or non-material.
Association exercises control in a formal way, whereas institutions exercise control in informal ways.
Association has legal status, but institutions do not have any legal status. It can’t sue or be sued.
Differences between Association and Community
An association is not a community but a group within a community. The differences between them are as follows:
Firstly, F. Tonnies remarks that community is a form of grouping that arises spontaneously or naturally and on a type of will deeply rooted in the entire personality. Association, on the other hand, is artificially formed, reflective or deliberate, resting on a type of will that consciously means to attain given ends. Community is organic, spontaneous, and creative, but the association is mechanical, artificial and held together by ties that belong to the world of rivalries, bargaining, and compromises.
Secondly, as used by Maclver, the community is “a focus of social life.” It is regarded as integral or whole because it fulfills all the needs of its members. One’s life may be lived wholly within it. An association, on the other hand, is “an organization of social life.” It is regarded as partial because it is formed for the pursuit of specific interests or aims.
Thirdly, associations exist within the community. The individuals form an association for their interests. There are a number of associations within a community. According to Maclver, an association is not a community but an organization within a community.
Fourthly, the membership of an association has a limited significance. Membership is voluntary. They withdraw their membership when they lose interest in it. But the community members have a wider significance and are compulsory. People are born into a community, but they choose their associations.
Lastly, community sentiment is necessary to constitute a community without which community cannot be imagined. There can be no community without the sense of “we-feeling.” But the sentiment is not at all a basic factor to form an association.
The distinctions between community and association were very much clear in primitive societies. But due to the rapid urbanization, development of transportation, and communication, it becomes very difficult to distinguish between them.
Differences between Association and Society
The following are the points of differences between association and society:
Firstly, society is a system of social relationships which are invisible and intangible. It is the result of natural evolution. Whereas association is a group of people. It is deliberately created or is artificial.
Secondly, society is older than association, it is in existence since man appeared on the earth while association arose at a later stage when man learns to organize himself for the pursuit of some particular purpose.
Thirdly, man cannot live without society. Society will exist as long as man exists. Membership in society is compulsory. On the other hand, a man may live without being a member of any association at all. Association may be only transitory. The membership of the association is voluntary.
Lastly, society comes into existence for the general well being of individuals. Hence, the aim of society in general. Both co-operation and conflict mark it. It may be organized or unorganized. On the other hand, the association is formed for the pursuit of some particular interest or interests. Hence, the aim of the association is particular. It is based on co-operation. It must be organized.
The distinction between institution and association can best be illustrated by studying the following list:
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