Communalism is not Utilitarianism

Many people in the West believe that communalism is based on a utilitarian framework. Some even  believe that a communalistic society is a mere ideal that cannot work. What is meant by 'cannot work' needs to be carefully defined.

Communalism seeks to care for the needs of the community as a whole, and that no one or no group should only be looking after their own needs. Thus, community-oriented societies such as Asian societies tend to be against individualistic pursuits of pleasure and comfort. Goals such as working to contribute to the community, instead of having a career as a status symbol, and looking after family rather than just having it all as a sign of accomplishment are worthy of pursuing.

This is in stark contrast to the West where people must have a career to show how independent one is, or where a person who is unmarried, particularly a woman who is unmarried lacks something.

Utilitarianism is the idea that worthy goals or achievements should be maximised for the greater good. This, in effect, endorses the harm caused to certain groups or individuals for the good of the public. It may seem that this is communalistic, but this is in fact, anti-communalist, because communalism is the idea that all people should be cared for because all the equal. Communalism does not endorse majority groups harming minority groups, not minority groups harming majority groups.