Society in developing countries and countries in transition are complex entities. In the sense of “do no harm”, interventions need to be screened for any (unintended) social consequences and their cultural and contextual sensibility. Too fast of a change of traditional identities, structures, and meanings in the partner countries due to the confrontation with western values, institutions and frames of reference, shatters orderly adaptation processes, intensifies conflict between “traditional and modern” and raises the anomic conflict potential.

The extent of anomie in a society reflects the potential for social conflict and instability. Anomie can lead to controlled adaptation processes but also to protest, uproar, destabilization, as well as to a collapse of entire communities. As such, anomie research aids in the early detection of risks for societal conflicts. The goal of anomie research is to be able to influence social change by early detection of anomic structures, and to provide decision makers with a database that enables preventive interventions.

Insecurity and loss of orientation are a fertile ground for radical ideologies of every persuasion. Anomie supports a call for simple and easily understood explanations of the world; a clear differentiation between “good” and “evil” is needed. Secular radical ideologies as well as religious fundamentalist doctrines become more attractive.

Social development also influences the political and economic development of a country. Private sector investments are especially dependent on stable and predictable conditions in a country. In this sense, the social aspects of instability are extremely relevant for country risk analyses and private businesses, when detected in a timely manner, observed over the long term, and supplemented by an analysis of the actors, structures and processes at the macro level. Market studies and stock market data alone are not sufficient.