Enclave vs. Conclave — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on January 16, 2024
An enclave is a territory or a group that is entirely surrounded by a different territory or group, while a conclave is a gathering held in a private, often secret, meeting.
Difference Between Enclave and Conclave
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An enclave is a distinct area or group that is completely enclosed within the boundaries of another territory. It can refer to a country surrounded by another country or a minority community within a larger community. A conclave, on the other hand, refers to a private, often secret meeting or gathering, the most famous being the gathering of cardinals in the Catholic Church to elect a new pope.
The concept of an enclave is primarily geographical and political, focusing on the uniqueness and isolation of the area or group within external boundaries. Conclaves, however, are event-based, characterized by their exclusivity and the privacy of the discussions or decisions made within them.
Enclaves can exist for historical, political, or cultural reasons, creating a unique socio-political dynamic for the inhabitants. Conclaves are usually temporary gatherings for specific purposes, such as decision-making or discussion of specific issues, often with significant implications.
Examples of enclaves include countries like Lesotho (surrounded by South Africa) or ethnic and religious communities isolated within a city. Examples of conclaves include the papal conclave or a corporate board meeting held behind closed doors.
The term enclave implies a sense of separateness and self-contained existence, whereas conclave implies secrecy, exclusivity, and a focus on internal deliberations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A territory or group completely surrounded by another
A private or secret meeting or gathering
Context
Geographical, political
Event-based, often secret
Purpose
Highlights uniqueness and isolation
Focuses on exclusive decision-making or discussions
Examples
Lesotho, ethnic communities within cities
Papal elections, confidential board meetings
Implication
Separateness, self-contained existence
Secrecy, exclusivity, internal focus
Compare with Definitions
Enclave
Territorially Surrounded Area: Completely enclosed by another territory.
Vatican City is an enclave within Rome.
Conclave
Decision-Making Assembly: Group gathered for important decisions.
The cardinals enter conclave to elect a new pope.
Enclave
Geopolitical Entity: A country or region within another country.
Lesotho is an enclave completely surrounded by South Africa.
Conclave
Private Gathering: A meeting held in secrecy.
The company's leadership team held a conclave to discuss the merger.
Enclave
Cultural Isolation: Often culturally distinct from surrounding areas.
The enclave maintains its festivities, distinct from the surrounding city.
Conclave
Confidential Discussions: Discussions not disclosed to the public.
The government officials' conclave focused on national security issues.
Enclave
Minority Community: A distinct group within a larger population.
The ethnic enclave in the city preserves its unique cultural traditions.
Conclave
Event-Based Assembly: Temporarily convened for a specific purpose.
The conclave convened to address the emergency was decisive in the crisis response.
Enclave
Socio-Political Uniqueness: Exhibits unique characteristics.
The enclave developed its own dialect over time.
Conclave
Exclusive Meeting: Limited to specific members.
The conclave of investors decided the startup's fate.
Enclave
A portion of territory surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct
They gave troops a week to leave the coastal enclave
Conclave
The private rooms in which the cardinals meet to elect a new pope.
Enclave
A country or part of a country lying wholly within the boundaries of another.
Conclave
A secret or confidential meeting.
Enclave
A distinctly bounded area enclosed within a larger unit
Ethnic enclaves in a large city.
Conclave
The meeting held to elect a new pope.
Enclave
A political, cultural or social entity or part thereof that is completely surrounded by another.
The republic of San Marino is an enclave of Italy.
The streets around Union Square form a Protestant enclave within an otherwise Catholic neighbourhood.
Conclave
A meeting of family members or associates.
Enclave
A group that is set off from a larger population by its characteristic or behavior.
...it tends to make marriage itself a lifestyle enclave.
Conclave
(Roman Catholic) A closed meeting in which the elector cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church choose a new pope.
Enclave
(computing) An isolated portion of an application's address space, such that data in an enclave can only be accessed by code in the same enclave.
Conclave
(Roman Catholic) The set of apartments in which the elector cardinals are secluded while a conclave takes place.
Enclave
(transitive) To enclose within a foreign territory.
Conclave
(Roman Catholic) The group of cardinals involved in a conclave.
Enclave
A tract of land or a territory inclosed within another territory of which it is independent. See Exclave.
Conclave
(by extension) A private meeting; a closed or secret assembly.
Enclave
To inclose within an alien territory.
Conclave
The set of apartments within which the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church are continuously secluded while engaged in choosing a pope.
Enclave
An enclosed territory that is culturally distinct from the foreign territory that surrounds it
Conclave
The body of cardinals shut up in the conclave for the election of a pope; hence, the body of cardinals.
It was said a cardinal, by reason of his apparent likelihood to step into St. Peter's chair, that in two conclaves he went in pope and came out again cardinal.
Conclave
A private meeting; a close or secret assembly.
The verdicts pronounced by this conclave (Johnson's Club) on new books, were speedily known over all London.
Conclave
A confidential or secret meeting
Common Curiosities
Are conclaves always related to religion?
No, while the term is often associated with religious gatherings like the papal conclave, it can refer to any private or secret meeting.
Can a city have an enclave?
Yes, a city can have an enclave, such as a distinct ethnic or cultural community within its boundaries.
What is the primary purpose of a conclave?
A conclave is primarily used for confidential meetings or decision-making processes, often of a significant nature.
What defines an enclave?
An enclave is a territory, region, or community entirely enclosed within the boundaries of another territory or distinct in its characteristics from surrounding areas.
Who typically participates in a conclave?
Participation in a conclave is usually limited to specific members or officials relevant to the meeting's purpose.
Can a conclave be open to the public?
By definition, a conclave is a private, exclusive gathering, so it is not open to the public.
Is an enclave always a small area?
An enclave can vary in size; it might be a small community or even an entire country surrounded by another country.
What security implications can enclaves have?
Enclaves can pose unique security challenges due to their geographical isolation and potential for cultural differences.
How often do conclaves occur?
The frequency of conclaves depends on their context; some occur regularly, like annual meetings, while others, like papal conclaves, are less frequent.
Can an enclave have its own government?
It depends on the enclave; some have local governments, while others are governed as part of the surrounding territory.
What is an example of a national enclave?
An example of a national enclave is Lesotho, a country entirely surrounded by South Africa.
Are enclaves independent entities?
Enclaves are often politically and administratively dependent on the surrounding territory but can be culturally distinct.
Can an enclave exist within an enclave?
Yes, this situation is called a "counter-enclave" or "second-order enclave."
Is a conclave always a formal event?
Conclaves are typically formal, especially in the context of significant decision-making or ceremonial functions.
How is a conclave secured?
Conclaves are secured through privacy measures, ensuring confidentiality and sometimes physical security for the duration of the meeting.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
