Supersociety

This book extends Zygmunt Bauman's concept of liquid modernity and introduces the concept of the supersociety to signify an era of unprecedented convergence and interconnection of three dimensions at a global scale. These dimensions are: the techno-economic sphere, the ecosphere, and the noosphere (the realm of culture, information, and knowledge production). The authors state that this shift necessitates a nuanced and complex analytical framework to comprehend the dynamics at play, as the traditional notion of society is no longer adequate. In contrast to the process of globalisation, the authors view this supersociety as engendering a non-linear integration and greater verticalisation, while simultaneously increasing inequalities and igniting novel conflicts. This raises the risk of entering a phase of systemic irrationality, as reflected in the contemporary polycrisis. According to the authors, a turning point lies in recognising the relational character of human life, as conceived by science in the past century. This recognition necessitates investing in living intelligence and social generativity as potential avenues for addressing the challenges emerging in supersociety.

Written in an engaging style, this book is meant for academic and general readers interested in political and social transformations, social and cultural life, and globalisation.