ABSTRACT
The introductory chapter explains the mechanism behind increasingly dysfunctional and disrupted societies. Social disruption is essentially a result of five social symptoms: Frustration, Disconnection, Fragmentation, Polarization and Escalation. These societies are characterized by a historically low level of trust in governments, an increasing segregation of counties and neighbourhoods into lifestyle and worldview communities, which are locked into their voting patterns. Politicians have little incentive to reach across party lines. Radicalization in political campaigning has additionally brought about increasing polarization, which touches upon fears and anxieties of todays’ great uncertainty. The proliferation of online harassment, the brutal incident in Charlottesville, or the Brexit vote which led to the highest spike in hate crimes ever recorded, are sad examples of how disrupted societies turn public disputes into expressions of violence.
