Stability is not the same as immobility. Stability necessitates development and change. But when does social change become destructive and call into question existing frameworks?

Changes in society and social transformation are not necessarily always destabilizing. They are acceptable to both individuals and communities as long as those affected can interpret the changed reality according to values and frames of reference. When traditional values or norms, familiar models of interpretation, and systems of reference lose their validity without being replaced with something new, a rise in insecurity and a loss of norms and orientation (anomie) becomes more likely.

Early detection of risky developments

Anomie can have constructive, but also destructive effects: Anomie stimulates adaptation processes, innovation and creativity. However, anomie also leads to excessive demands and alienation, pessimism, distrust, and discontent. Visible symptoms on the individual level are: risky behavior, substance abuse, mental health disorders and violence (against oneself or against others). At the societal level one sees increased disintegration tendencies. Risks of instability, violent uprising, and conflict increase; phobias of all kinds can become more prevalent. Loss of orientation and failing systems of reference also cause people to turn to religious fundamentalism, or left or right extremist groups, which offer a foothold and orientation in challenging times. Anomic tendencies become stronger when immovable structures at the political level try to prevent change by coercion.

The activities at SAD in the area of Youth and Anomie include:

• Empirical studies on life situations, future perspectives, values, frames of reference, civil and leisure structures of youth and young adults with the goal of early identification of hidden structures and processes as well as values and frames of reference, that can evolve into risky behavior, violence or other serious types of behavior.
• Early detection of risks of societal instability as well as the potential and obstacles to social development. Formulation of long-term development scenarios including an analysis of actors, structures and processes at the macro-societal level.
• Identification of successful coping strategies for youth and young adults; creation of an evidence base for effective approaches to youth empowerment as well as the promotion of intermediary, civil society (youth) structures, which are able to meaningfully connect the individual and the societal levels thereby counteracting anomic tendencies in a preventive manner.
• Conducting pilot projects and intervention research (action research) to formulate “best practices” for dealing with social change and transformation.
• Processing and making available practice-oriented data, knowledge, and recommendations for local and international decision makers as well as knowledge transfer.

Relevance of Youth and Anomie Research

Examples:

Anomie and Insurgency Empirical research on the interrelationship between anomie and the support of and participation in non-state armed groups

AIDS orphans in Southern Africa Rebuilding Confidence:
Developing a minimal programme for psycho-social support of AIDS orphans in Southern Africa

Youth in Russia II
The future of a generation in transition

Contact:

Dr. Niklaus Eggenberger-Argote
Teamleader
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+41 (0)32 344 30 53

A potential social warning instrument - Final Report on China Anomie Project
Peter Atteslander, Li Hanlin, Judith Tanur & Qi Wang, pdf 561 KB

Comparative Anomie Research: Hidden Barriers - Hidden Potential for Social Development
Peter Atteslander, Bettina Gransow & John Western (eds.), 1999, pdf 1,4 MB

The Social Integration Crisis in Post-Socialist Bulgaria
Jean-Pierre Gern & Jelio Vladimirov, pdf 336 KB

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