Mass-society theory evolved by reconciling homogeneity with differentiation
Evidence
Is there a recurrent theme that gives coherence to reflections on mass society from Taine to Freud? I think there is, and it is to be found in the progressive theoretical renegotiation of the duality between social homogeneity (or indistinctness) and social differentiation. At the beginning of the process, in what we have called the zero degree of any positive evaluation of mass action, this duality is actually a dualism: for Taine, society can open the door to homogenizing forces only at the expense of its internal cohesion. — Ernesto Laclau, On Populist Reason, 156
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Functional differentiation makes social structures contingent and permanently revisable; The cash economy correlates social expansion with individual differentiation — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 663; Social trust evolved from interpersonal relations to abstract anonymities of mass society — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 2423 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- Modern capitalist society replaces unitary ideological canopies with multiply-plural collective representations
#expands(0.80) — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 917 - Functional differentiation makes social structures contingent and permanently revisable
#complicates(0.75) - The cash economy correlates social expansion with individual differentiation
#corroborates(0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 663 - Social trust evolved from interpersonal relations to abstract anonymities of mass society
#expands(0.75) — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 2423