Conceptual Approaches to Analysis of Social Unity

Conceptual Approaches to Analysis of Social Unity


Gofman A.В.

Dr. Sci. (Soc.), Prof., Higher School of Economics; Chief researcher, Institute of Sociology of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia a-gopman@yandex.ru

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For citation:

Gofman A.В. Conceptual Approaches to Analysis of Social Unity. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2015. No 11. P. 29-36




Abstract

Conceptual aspects of social unity and their interrelations are discussed. Semantic analysis of concepts depicting social unity is offered. Author distinguishes two types of social integration designated as “integration of society” and “integration with society”; or “integration in society”; in latter case its meaning is closely related to those of “adaptation”, Contents. Summaries 171 “socialization”, and “inclusion”. Besides, two other aspects of social integration, namely social cohesion (solidarity, consensus), on the one hand, and social regulation (rules, norms and values), on the other hand, as well as the interaction between them, are analyzed. Crucial role of “abstract rules” in the 21st century large societies, including Russian one, is emphasized. According to author, two forms of social integration – cohesion and adherence to abstract rules – are fused in civil solidarity and civil society.


Keywords
social unity; social integration; cohesion; rules; civil solidarity
Content No 11, 2015