Trauma Society:
Between Evolution and Revolution (The Invitation to Debate)

Toshchenko Zh.T.,

Corresponding Member of RAS, Scientific Director of the Sociological faculty of Russian State University for the Humanities, Editor-in-chief, journal “Sociological Studies”, Principal Researcher, Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, zhantosch@mail.ru

elibrary_id: 1382 |

DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2017.01.07

Rubric: Russia Today

For citation:

Toshchenko Zh.T. Trauma Society: Between Evolution and Revolution (The Invitation to Debate). – Polis. Political Studies. 2017. No. 1. P. 70-84. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2017.01.07

Abstract

The author attempts to prove that, along with the well-known major paths of development (revolutionary and evolutionary), there is another specific way of development – the one of a “trauma society”. It is shown that the notion of “trauma’ has acquired social significance as it was comprehended in the philosophical, psychological, sociological and political science literature. The author considers “trauma societies” to be the countries that have been experiencing stagnation in development for a long time or are in a recession, losing their previous achievements. The article reveals the essential characteristics of ‘trauma society”, its causes, consequences of its development. Particular attention is paid to Russia, which, according to the author, can be attributed to the “trauma societies”, since it rejected the socialist past while failing to achieve the goals it set and, at the same time, losing faith in the values that underpinned this transition in the first place. The author points out that no society (and Russia is no exception) can be traumatized forever, hence he attempts to forecast the circumstances under which it could recover from the trauma and analyzes the obstacles to the transition to a truly democratic, well-functioning society, yet not overcome. As a result, the author outlines the strategic concepts of Russia’s development.

Keywords

civilization; revolution; evolution; “trauma society”; development; social implications.

Full Text

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Content No. 1, 2017