Complex societies and social theory

In: Social science information, Band 37, Heft 3, S. 493-532

Abstract

A central issue in the social sciences today is the analysis of complex society, and topics like globalization, identity and self-identity, transformation of self and collective action become more and more important in social theory. This article intends to show (a) how the diagnosis of complexity affects the constitution of the topics at the heart of social theory and (b) what its major implications are from a theoretical and epistemic standpoint. Alberto Melucci and Anthony Giddens being among the most representative social scientists in this field, I examine each one's approaches and argue that we are in the presence of an "existential turn" in social theory.