The Thought of Zygmunt Bauman as a Key for Introducing a New Social Theory

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the main characteristics of the sociology of Zygmunt Bauman, with specific reference to the theory of liquid society and consumerism. The problematic dimensions of globalization, together with the effects of an increasingly individualized society, have been challenging the entrenchment of traditional interpretations of society. Bauman affirmed the necessity for rethinking social theory, to take into account the transformations of modernity that determine intensive and extensive changes to all aspects of human life. In his analyses, the social world is indeed depicted in a way that is scarcely familiar to the traditional observer. Bauman’s overarching project has been to create a critical and innovative sociological imagination, through which he has been able to deliver an optimistic interpretation of the developments and transformations occurring in the social realm, and place them in relation to issues of freedom, justice, morality, and the suffering of human beings. This article illustrates Bauman’s intellectual contribution, highlighting how his thought can be considered strategic to the creation of new conceptualizations and a new sociological paradigm.