Abstract

Individualization is at the core of contemporary Western European sociology. Like many other concepts in sociology, individualisation often is only poorly defined. In the first part of the article a more demanding definition of the concept is proposed. The importance of the aesthetic-hermeneutic dimension of individualisation and of the relativisation of social control is stressed. De-traditionalisation on the contrary should not be considered as a part of the individualisation defintion. After this theoretical elaboration, a measure for individualisation is presented. This measure was used in a survey about Flemish twenty and twenty-one years old. Only a minority of these young people can be considered individualised. In the second part of the article, some theses concerning the relation between individualisation on the one hand and social integration and solidarity on the other hand are empirically tested in the same age group. Both objective and subjective measures are used to measure social integration. Based on these findings we have to conclude that there is no significant difference between individualised and non individualised on social integration. Concerning solidarity also, we have to conclude that there are only minor differences. Individualised young people vote more in favour of the green party and none of the individualised young people votes in favour of the extreme right party.

How to Cite:

Waege, H., (1994) “Individualisering, sociale integratie en solidariteit: enkele thesen empirisch getoetst”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 15(3-4), 327–356. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86203