SPATIAL RELATIONS OF SOCIAL FORMS 151] Spatial Fixation of Social Contents Oo 1 eo Be 2 - Hi f d VY al m Tl re [|= on He ae ic a 1e T= 1, r= 1S. Another important significance of the spatial relations of social groups exists in the fact that they allow the fixa- tion of their content in a definite locality. It makes a great difference in the structure of the group whether the group as a whole, certain definite elements in it, or certain of its fundamental interests are definitely fixed to a specific lo- cality or spatially entirely undetermined. The difference in social structure between nomadic and sedentary tribes has often been pointed out. This terri- torial fixation apparently occurs in different degrees of flexibility. Some groups bind themselves absolutely to a definite area and prohibit their members from leaving that area. Others withhold certain privileges from members living outside of the specific area. Others, again, are en- tirely free from any territorial fixation and have no speci- fications about domicile in their membership requirements. The modern purposive association tends toward the latter type. The fact that the introduction of the money econo- my has enabled the participation and contributions of mem- bers in certain associations to take a purely monetary form has made the necessity for actual aggregation for such groups entirely superfluous. The territorial restrictions which a group attaches to its membership requirements may appear at first sight as an expression of the great power of the group over its mem- bers. This, however, is not always the case. In many in- stances the group binds its elements with external re- strictions just because it feels its power and its unity in- sufficiently secured by the mere subjective cohesion. Ter- ritorial restriction or its absence may therefore be an ex- pression both of great strength and of weakness. The free- dom with which a modern state allows its subjects to emi-