The Impact of Globalization on Methodology. Measuring Anomie and Social Transformation

Abstract

In the introduction to this thematic section the question was raised as to whether the instruments presently available allow us to measure anomie and social transformations reliably and validly. Trying to answer that question in the context of numerous agencies and institutions producing data on social transformation is not an easy task. Based on INAST's experience two issues have priority: 1. Specific characterizations of anomic structures and empirically testable hypotheses regarding their genesis have to be formulated. 2. In-depth illustrations of specific territorial and cultural forms of anomie are a prerequisite to the elaboration of a typology to make different forms of anomie comprehensible. Change-provoking factors such as globalization, urbanization, migration and changing ethnicity within specified areas have to be studied in their interaction.