As discussed earlier in this volume, capitalism revolutionizes all social conditions, traditions, customs, norms, values, and human relationships in its search for expanding markets. It is with the development of communism, with the collectivization of the means of production, just as the means of production are collectivized in primitive communism, that human community is re- established. In fact, Marx believes that human history only begins with the development of communism, since up to that point, humans have living more like animals in their constant struggle for survival. Regardless of how one feels about relative value of capitalism as opposed to communism, Marx's thinking has much to offer in our attempt to understand the nature of community. First, Marx demonstrates the fundamental importance of community to the human condition.
Community is the goal to which human social evolution is moving.
Secondly, Marx demonstrates the relationship between the experience of community and the broader technological and economic characteristics of the historical moment. If we are to understand the experience of community in the late twentieth century, we must be truly interdisciplinary, and connect our experience of community to these broader social- cultural conditions. All of the three theorist we have discussed, Toennies, Durkheim, and Marx, help us to do just that. We will now look at some more contemporary thinkers who can help us as we attempt to understand the experience of community in a postmodern setting.