disembedding

Disembedding refers to the process by which social relations are abstracted from local contexts and restructured across indefinite spans of time and space. This concept is central to the work of sociologist Anthony Giddens, particularly in his theories of modernity and globalization. Giddens argues that in pre-modern societies, social life was largely characterized by face-to-face interactions and embedded within specific geographical and temporal frameworks. The advent of modernity, however, led to the "disembedding" of social relations. This means that interactions and relationships are no longer necessarily tied to the physical presence of individuals or their immediate surroundings.

Two primary mechanisms facilitate this disembedding: the development of money and the rise of expert systems. Money serves as a generalized medium of exchange that allows for transactions between individuals who do not know each other and may be geographically distant. Expert systems, such as those found in modern banking, healthcare, or legal professions, are abstract systems of technical knowledge that provide reliable expectations in particular types of outcomes. These systems operate independently of the specific individuals who utilize them. Disembedding allows for the expansion of social interactions and the creation of complex, globalized networks. However, it also introduces new forms of risk and uncertainty, as individuals become increasingly dependent on abstract systems and distant actors. The ongoing process of globalization can be understood as a continuation and intensification of disembedding.