From class society to the individualized society? A critical reassessment of individualization and class

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Rasborg
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Young People ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Social And Cultural Capital ◽  
Theoretical Integration ◽  
Liquid Modernity ◽  
Class Society ◽  
Class Power ◽  
Reflexive Modernity

The concept of “individualization” plays a central role in both classic and modern sociology. In modern sociology writers such as Beck, Giddens, and Bauman made the concept of individualization a key one in their theories of “late”, “reflexive”, and “liquid modernity”. However, the emphasis which the sociology of individualization puts on “liberation”, choice and social change is challenged by the sociology of stratification and power (Bourdieu, Dean, and others) with its greater emphasis on class, power and social reproduction. This paper seeks to “overcome” this schism between social change and social reproduction in the form of an attempt to think the differentiated (stratified) forms of individualization in reflexive modernity. The assumption is that there is a differentiation in reflexive modern people’s ability to deal with the requirements of individualization, depending on their possession of economic, social and cultural capital. This is argued by means of a theoretical “reconstruction” of the insights and deficiencies of the sociology of individualization, and demonstrated—with a focus on young people—by a number of empirical examples. In conclusion, the paper discusses the possibility of a theoretical integration of the fundamental insights of both the sociology of individualization and the sociology of stratification.

scholarly journals Individualisering og social differentiering i den refleksive modernitet

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 9-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Rasborg
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Young People ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Social Differentiation ◽  
Social And Cultural Capital ◽  
Liquid Modernity ◽  
Class Power ◽  
Reflexive Modernity

Ikke kun i klassisk, men også i moderne sociologi spiller begrebet om ”individualisering” en helt central rolle. I nyere sociologi har ikke mindst Ziehe, Beck, Giddens og Bauman gjort individualiseringsbegrebet til et nøglebegreb i deres teorier om sen-, refleksiv og flydende modernitet. Individualiseringssociologiens betoning af frisættelse, valg og social forandring udfordres imidlertid af differentierings- og magtsociologien (Bourdieu, Dean, Rose m.fl.), der i højere grad betoner klasser, magt og social reproduktion. I artiklen søges skismaet mellem forandring og social reproduktion ”overvundet” i form af et forsøg på at tænke individualiseringens differentierede former i den refleksive modernitet. Antagelsen er således, at der – afhængigt af besiddelsen af økonomisk, social og kulturel kapital – er forskel på refleksiv moderne menneskers evne til at håndtere individualiseringens krav, hvilket – med fokus på unge – illustreres med en række empiriske eksempler. Afslutningsvis peges der på muligheden af en teoretisk integration af fundamentale indsigter i såvel individualiserings- som differentieringssociologien. ENGELSK ABSTRACT: Klaus Rasborg: Individualization and Social Differentiation in Reflexive Modernity The concept of ”individualization” plays a central role in both classic and modern sociology. In modern sociology writers such as Ziehe, Beck, Giddens and Bauman made the concept of individualization a key concept in their theories of ”late”, ”reflexive” and ”liquid modernity”. However, the emphasis which the sociology of individualization puts on ”liberation”, choice and social change is challenged by the sociology of differentiation and power (Bourdieu, Dean, Rose and others) with its greater emphasis on class, power and social reproduction. This article seeks to ”overcome” this schism between social change and social reproduction in the form of an attempt to think the differentiated forms of individualization in reflexive modernity. The assumption is that there is a differentiation in reflexive modern people’s ability to deal with the requirements of individualization, depending on their possession of economic, social and cultural capital. This is argued by means of a theoretical ”reconstruction” of the insights and deficiencies of the sociology of individualization, and demonstrated – with a focus on young people – by a number of empirical examples. In conclusion, the article discusses the possibility of a theoretical integration of the fundamental insights of both the sociology of individualization and the sociology of differentiation. Key words: Individualization, social differentiation, young people, risk, reflexive habitus.

‘Berlin is Not a Foreign Country, Stupid!’—Growing up ‘Global’ in Eastern Germany

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1855-1872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Hörschelmann ◽  
Nadine Schäfer
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Local Connectivity ◽  
Social And Cultural Capital ◽  
Life Chances ◽  
Power Differentials ◽  
Unequal Access

In this paper we analyse how young East Germans come to be differentially placed in global network space through their socioeconomically and culturally specific engagements with globalised mediascapes and ethnoscapes. We call for greater awareness of the power differentials which shape globalisation, and draw on the theoretical work of Pierre Bourdieu to show how unequal access to social and cultural capital influences and is reflected in the ‘glocal’ connections through which young people develop and perform their identities. Further, we seek to understand how these differential engagements impact on young people's future trajectories through the development of different competencies. We contend that, precisely how young people are positioned in networks of global–local connectivity matters profoundly, both for the performance of their present identities, and for their future life chances.

A Community-in-Sound

2019 ◽  
pp. 155-173
Author(s):  
Anna Bull
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Classical Music ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
The Body ◽  
Social And Cultural Capital ◽  
Music Ensembles ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Opening Up

This chapter describes how young people in this study recognized an emotional depth in classical music that they stated they did not get from other musics, and that was particularly linked to the Romantic repertoire they preferred. The participants’ recognition of a deep interiority both in themselves and in this music constitutes a form of interpellation of themselves as subjects who are able to recognize the value of this music. Through this process, classical music can be seen as a cultural technology for knowing the bourgeois self. The embodied and affective experience of playing in classical music ensembles and the acoustic aesthetic facilitate transcendence of the body. The sound itself does the work of opening up the individual to facilitate a sense of community. Crucially, this deeply personal experience links young people into institutions and social groups that possess high levels of economic, social, and cultural capital.

Socio-cultural Resource for Kazakhstan Modernization

2012 ◽  
pp. 74-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Stavinskaya ◽  
E. Nikishina
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Cultural Resource ◽  
Bonding Social Capital ◽  
Social And Cultural Capital ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Cultural Features

The opportunities of the competitive advantages use of the social and cultural capital for pro-modernization institutional reforms in Kazakhstan are considered in the article. Based on a number of sociological surveys national-specific features of the cultural capital are marked, which can encourage the country's social and economic development: bonding social capital, propensity for taking executive positions (not ordinary), mobility and adaptability (characteristic for nomad cultures), high value of education. The analysis shows the resources of the productive use of these socio-cultural features.

Engaging Diaspora in Reconciliation Efforts in Sri Lanka: Lessons Learnt

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16
Author(s):  
Amjad Mohamed-Saleem
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Trust Building ◽  
Social And Cultural Capital ◽  
Engagement Strategies ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
The World ◽  
Conflict Reconciliation ◽  
National Framework

With nearly three million Sri Lankans living overseas, across the world, there is a significant role that can be played by this constituency in post-conflict reconciliation.  This paper will highlight the lessons learnt from a process facilitated by International Alert (IA) and led by the author, working to engage proactively with the diaspora on post-conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka.  The paper shows that for any sustainable impact, it is also critical that opportunities are provided to diaspora members representing the different communities of the country to interact and develop horizontal relations, whilst also ensuring positive vertical relations with the state. The foundation of such effective engagement strategies is trust-building. Instilling trust and gaining confidence involves the integration of the diaspora into the national framework for development and reconciliation. This will allow them to share their human, social and cultural capital, as well as to foster economic growth by bridging their countries of residence and origin.

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