ABSTRACT
Anomie is located at a deeper level, as a latent condition, with observable manifestations. There is general agreement that anomie has something to do with the absence of values and norms, defining ends and means. Social anomie is more than the sum of individual anomies; there is also the absence of institutionalisation. Epistemologically anomie can be identified as an intervening variable mediating between independent and dependent clusters of variables. Anomie is not the same as political action in general, and not the same as misery or poverty, or the whole repertory of social problems. But it may cause some of these problems as a factor accompanying any major transition. An early warning system with a dangerously high level of anomie would include low level of faith in the system that was, low level of faith in the new system, high level of egoistic cost-benefit analysis, including violence, corruption, apathy, drug consumption, the inner journey, maybe suicide.
