The erosion of sociability: rescuing collaboration Cover Image

The erosion of sociability: rescuing collaboration
The erosion of sociability: rescuing collaboration

Author(s): Ladislau Dowbor
Subject(s): Social Theory, Globalization
Published by: Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
Keywords: sociability; social inequality; surveillance capitalism; platform cooperatives; digital sovereignty; community cohesion;

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the structural erosion of human sociability driven by severe socio-economic inequality, rapid urbanization, and the profit-driven attention economy. The author argues that modern capitalism, characterized by extreme wealth concentration and the fragmentation of traditional family structures, fundamentally isolates individuals and dismantles community conviviality. The pervasive influence of surveillance capitalism and monopolistic digital algorithms further degrades the social fabric, substituting meaningful physical interaction with screen-based isolation. However, the paper posits that this social fracture is not an inevitable trajectory. By reclaiming the digital revolution from corporate monopolies, societies can harness connectivity to foster grassroots collaboration. Highlighting the potential of local platform cooperatives and digital sovereignty initiatives, the study concludes that community-led technological infrastructures can successfully restore sociability, democratize knowledge, and shift the global paradigm from rent-seeking to sustainable, collective well-being.

  • Issue Year: 8/2026
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 7-24
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: English
Toggle Accessibility Mode