Gemeinschaft is a term from German sociology that refers to the social relationships that exist in close-knit, traditional communities, especially those found in pre-industrial villages and small rural towns.
Core characteristics of gemeinschaft include close personal bonds, collective identity, and shared values and customs within a community. German sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies introduced the concept in a book in 1887, in which he contrasts gemeinschaft, "community," with gesellschaft, "society" or "association" — such as that which exists in more urban, large-scale cities in an industrialized world. Today, one might find elements of gemeinschaft in tightly knit rural communities, such as many Amish communities.