ASSOCIATION AND INSTITUTIONS

1. What is the relationship between Association and Institution?

Answer:
Association is a formal group consciously organized for a specialized and specifically stated
purpose. And, according to MacIver, Institution are ‘the established form or conditions of
procedure of group activity.’ The relationship between association and Institution are as
follow:

Similarity:
1. Association and institution have a established rules of organization and procedure, a
formalized system of leadership and certain common interests among its member.
2. Institution are impossible without association. Institution may be established by
community as well as by association.
3. The members share a common interests, individuals have more or less the same
interest. Those who have political interest will join political association and institution
and so on.
4. When men create associations they must also create institution to get their desires
satisfied. Men form an association to satisfy their needs or need. But these needs are
fulfilled through institution.

Differences:
1. Association denotes membership. We belong to association, to political parties, trade
unions, youth clubs, etc. whereas, Institution denotes only a mode or means of service.
We do not belong to institution. We donot belong to marriage, property, education, or
law.
2. Association consist of individual and Institution consist of law, rules and regulations.
3. Association are concrete and mostly created or established but Institutions are abstract
and are primarily evolved.
4. Association may be temporary or permanent whereas Institutions are relatively more
durable.
5. Association has allocation; it makes sense to ask where it is. Thus, a family can be
located in space. But, Institutions does not have location. The question where it is,
makes no sense at all. Thus we cannot locate examination, education, marriage, etc.

Despite of many differences, the term Association and Institution are commonly used by
people to mean one and the same thing.