alienisation

Alienisation is a term used in sociology, philosophy, and cultural studies to denote the process or condition in which individuals become estranged, detached, or foreign to aspects of their life. The concept addresses how social, economic, political, or technological structures can diminish a person’s sense of belonging, agency, or meaning. Practically, alienisation can refer to feelings of powerlessness at work, disconnection from community, or estrangement from one’s own labor and capabilities.

Origin and theoretical background: The closely related notion of alienation originates in the works of Karl Marx, who described workers as alienated from the product of their labor, the labor process, their “species-being,” and other people under capitalism. The term has since been expanded by thinkers such as Émile Durkheim, Georg Simmel, and Erich Fromm, among others, to cover social isolation, cultural estrangement, and existential disquiet. In some languages, the spelling alienisation (or aliénation) reflects a similar concept; in English, alienation is more common, but alienisation is encountered in translation or stylistic usage.

Contemporary usage and scope: Modern discussions often focus on urbanization, globalization, and digital life as drivers of alienisation, including technostress, consumer alienation, or political disengagement. Critics note that alienation is a contested concept, not easily measurable, and warn against overgeneralization. The concept remains a common lens for analyzing disconnection within modern societies, labor relations, and cultural life.

See also: alienation; modernization; globalization; identity; labor.