Krupsky, M. A. Second Thoughts on the Phenomenon of Social Anomia in a Modern Society (Experience of Russia)

Abstract: The article describes the results of a detailed analysis of Emile Durkheim’s and Robert Merton’s theories about the phenomenon of social anomia. The author analyzes why this term tends to be used mostly in a negative meaning. As a result of the research, the author concludes that there is a direct dependence of the general use of the term ‘anomia’ and meaning of the term ‘norm’. The author proves the need in understanding the latter as a dynamically developing category which directly depends on the social system of values and established rules of behavior prevailing in this or that society. The author also analyzes the reasons of establishing the traditional understanding of anomia at all levels of the Russian social system. Based on the reports of non-government international organizations and independent Russian mass media and social organizations the author makes a conclusion about a stable authoritarian tendency of development of the Russian society. As a result, the author concludes that the traditional ‘free of norms’ status of the term ‘anomia’ has been offset in Russian social reality. The author proves that there is a need in a completely new approach to the term ‘anomia’. Based on the example of a modern Russian society, the author offers an approach based on which the new order as disintegration of social and political system, suppression of the process of development of civil society institutions and deliberate suppression of civil activity at a social level and atrophy of individual consciousness at a personal level. So it is concluded that the new anomia should be involve prevention of further decomposition of socio-political system, on one hand, and active growth of civil society institutions, on the other hand. As one of the ways of realizations of the new anomia project, the author suggests that we should pay attention at the development of so-called the ‘third sector’.

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