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Community Immunity

/kəˈmjuː.nɪ.ti ɪˈmjuː.nɪ.ti/ Medical Metaphor (Immunology)
Definition The distributed capacity of a community network to detect and address threats to collective wellbeing while supporting member diversity. It is the "social immune system" that prevents individual crises from becoming systemic collapses.

The Healing Network

Biological immune systems are not centralized armies; they are distributed networks of sensors and responders. Similarly, Community Immunity relies on every member of the network being able to signal distress and mobilize support.

Features of a high-immunity community include:

  • Redundancy: Multiple people capable of performing critical roles (no single point of failure).
  • Connectivity: Dense social ties that allow information about needs to travel fast.
  • Diversity: Varied skills and perspectives that increase the range of possible responses.

Regenerative Justice

Just as a healthy immune system does not destroy the body to save it, a healthy community practices strategies of repair rather than punishment. When harm occurs, the focus is on healing the rupture in the relationship network, ensuring the long-term integrity of the social fabric.

Stratigraphy (Related Concepts)
Radical Redundancy Self-Stabilization Myceloom