Complexity of the concept of community in academic studies in social sciences: reflections and challenges

Abstract

The concept of community is widely used in the social sciences, but its polysemic and general use can limit the understanding of complex social realities. This article presents a reflection on the concept of community based on a systematic analysis of its use in the academic literature of 2022. It shows a diversity of approaches and perspectives, but also a lack of conceptual clarity and a lack of attention to the symmetry of human and non-human actors in community building.