Anomie and Alienation Theories Revisited
Anomie and Alienation Theories Revisited
Abstract Submissions Closed
RC36 Alienation Theory and Research (host committee)
Language: English
Anomie and alienation are constantly linked in sociological and socio-psychological research. However, with a few exceptions like Shoham’s book (1982), their relationship is usually neglected. In empirical research, anomie is usually operationalized as normlessness and is treated with a number of other indicators like powerlessness, meaninglessness, social isolation, and in others cases as an indicator of alienation (Dean, 1961; Middleton, 1963). However, some scientists view the same range of indicators as a measurement of anomie (Austin and Stack, 1988; Huschka and Mau, 2006). However, the authors provide neither theoretical reasons nor empirical evidence for why they interpret the instrument in this way or the other.
All these considerations depart considerably from the original theories – alienation by K. Marx and anomie by E. Durkheim. Ph. Besnard (1988) claimed that some reason for the uncertainty of the two concepts relationship lies in Durkheim’s work The Division of Labor in Society: when describing anomie as one of the abnormal labor division types, Durkheim also addressed the worker’s alienation in an overspecialized task.
Of interest would be papers addressing the nature of the relations between the two concepts. Both theoretical and empirical contributions regarding classical and more recent anomie and alienation theories are welcome.
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