postsocietalism

Postsocietalism is a theoretical framework that examines the conditions and implications of a society in which advanced technology, particularly digital and artificial intelligence systems, has fundamentally altered traditional social structures. The term arose in the early 21st century, largely in academic discussions of information society and posthumanism. Proponents argue that when automation and ubiquitous connectivity disperse work, governance, and identity, the conventional markers of a society—such as stable institutions, hierarchies, and shared cultural norms—become fluid and decentralized.

Central to postsocietalism is the idea that social cohesion may shift from physical community bonds to algorithmic networks that mediate interactions. Power dynamics are seen as moving away from institutions to data infrastructures, while economic exchange could be dominated by non‑human actors such as autonomous agents. The philosophical underpinnings draw on cybernetics, fuzzy logic, and the concept of “self‑organising systems.” They suggest that human agency will increasingly align with digitally mediated decision making, blurring the line between individual and collective intelligence.

Critics caution that postsocietalism overemphasises technology’s role and underestimates persistent socio‑economic inequalities. They also worry that the model could justify neoliberal governance structures that exploit distributed workforce markets. Moreover, the field lacks empirical consensus, as many of its predictions remain speculative. Nonetheless, postsocietalism has stimulated interdisciplinary debate on the future of governance, labor, and identity in a rapidly digitising world.