Private space as a research problem of sociological reflection of the solidarist potential for new social reality

Private space as a research problem of sociological reflection of the solidarist potential for new social reality


Volkov Yu.G.

Dr. Sci. (Philos.), Prof., Research Director of the Institute of Sociology and Regional Studies of the Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia ugvolkov@sfedu.ru

ID of the Article:

Rubric: Theory. Methodology

For citation:

Volkov Yu.G. Private space as a research problem of sociological reflection of the solidarist potential for new social reality. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2017. No 12. P. 20-29


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Abstract

Analysis of private space, as a new social reality of Russian society, becomes topical. The realities of Russian life are characterized by a shift in the vital activity of Russians to the social micro-level in conditions when the public space is characterized by gaps in the form of weak institutions of social interaction, low institutional trust, lack of public dialogue culture. Private space has a basis at the level of everyday practices of Russians, the individualization of life strategies, social distancing from «strangers» and the inclusion of «circle of loved ones.» In the context of the private space, Russians perceive socially significant problems shared by the non-return to traditional forms of collectivism, the assimilation of the «anarchistic» experience of the 1990s. It may be stated that structural conditions (social inequalities, as a factor of public space segregation) and subjective factors related to the adoption of individual interests as priorities, reliance on one’s own strengths and the logic of self-determination influence the design of the private space. The private space competes with the public space and contains boundaries of «non-interference of the state». The dynamics of the social sentiment of Russians indicate that there are shifts to the expansion of private space, the formation of social communications at the level of individual requirements and groups of private interests representation. If we assess the perspectives of civic participation, it seems important to create institutional environment for trust and interaction, in which the private space includes readiness for solidarist practices.


Keywords
private space; public space; social resources; solidarist practices; the logic of self-determination; institutionalized environment; individualization; collectivism

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Content No 12, 2017