Communes?

[ev]

How big are communes (geographically) are they just town and cities or a region of lets say 100x100km2? What determines the geographic size of a commune?

[swirling_vortex]

Since it's an ideology, it doesn't really have a size. It's as big or small as you want it to be. Of course, that also depends on your definition of a commune as well.

[which doctor]

There's no set definition. It varies depending on the jurisdiction.

[Invincible Summer]

Since it's an ideology, it doesn't really have a size..

A commune is not an ideology. Communism is, but a commune is a place.


Anyways, I think the OP's question is sort of silly.

What defines a city? There's no specific geographic measurement to define what a city is. Same goes with a commune.

Of course, if you're using "commune" as a synonym for "worker's collective" or "syndicate" then it has to be large enough to have means of production in some form.

[ev]

A commune is not an ideology. Communism is, but a commune is a place.

Correct.

Anyways, I think the OP's question is sort of silly.

No. It is a legitimate question.

What defines a city? There's no specific geographic measurement to define what a city is. Same goes with a commune.

No.

Of course, if you're using "commune" as a synonym for "worker's collective" or "syndicate" then it has to be large enough to have means of production in some form.

Half right.

[el_chavista]

I think that mutual social-economic-politic interests of the commoners define the area of the commune. It may be a ville with a huge surrounding country area of influence, or a "barrio" (quarter) in a city.

[Black Sheep]

Αs destruction500 mentioned,it could be arbirtarily declared according to its characteristics.Population, production/farming units, etc

btw OP answering with yes/no etc isnt helpful to anyone.

[Post-Something]

1000-25000 people usually.

EDIT: Sorry, I never realised you said geographically. My apologies.

[MarxSchmarx]

Well it depends on the time and place but here are some relevant points from Wikipedia on the matter:

• The largest commune of the French Republic is Maripasoula (3,710 inhabitants) in the département of French Guiana: 18,360 km² (7,089 sq. miles).

• In metropolitan France the largest commune is the commune of Arles (50,513 inhabitants) near Marseilles, the territory of which encompasses most of the Camargue (the delta of the Rhône River): 759 km² (293 sq. miles), or 8.7 times the area of the city of Paris (excluding the outlying parks of Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes).

• The smallest commune of the French Republic is Castelmoron-d'Albret (62 inhabitants) near Bordeaux: 0.0376 km² (0.0145 sq. miles or 9.3 acres).

[edit]

Apparently there is also something like 90,000,000 acres of arable land under the control of 56,000 communes in China so you can do the averaging.

Finally, for some bizarre reason :P, municipal communities in Italy are known as "Comunis" which translates into communes. I don't know what the largest area wise is, but I imagine it's not too hard to find out.

HTH.