Introducing Time, Temporality and Societal Change

Abstract

The time squeeze, captured in popular and academic debates as an experience of a shortage of time in which to conduct the activities that matter most to people, has become a pervasive concern of contemporary societies. This is sometimes presented as a matter of time scarcity that results from increasing demands on and opportunities for how we use time. Other accounts focus on processes of acceleration---the speeding-up of activities and capacity to do more of them simultaneously creates feelings of time pressure. Regardless of the emphasis, the experience of a time squeeze is associated with a wide range of social problems and is often identified as either a cause or barrier to their solution. This chapter provides a summary of the many ways in which the `time squeeze' is associated with societal problems. It provides a summary of theories of time and how it relates to society before providing an overview of the content and core arguments contained within this book.