ABSTRACT
For decades, social scientists have written about the erosion of existing relationships as a result of social change: some people migrate in search of new jobs or for better employment opportunities, while others are displaced or dislocated from cherished homes. Many people work long hours, have long commutes, and/or live in settings that discourage mingling with their neighbours. An examination of the weakening of friendship requires a hard look at the impacts of capitalism, which by dispersing people in space and requiring heavy demands on their time can undermine workers’ capacity to build and sustain relationships. Philosophers such as Adam Smith and Karl Marx, while having very different views on capitalism, explored its relationships with friendship and provide a path to reflection on the roles that government can play to mitigate friendship losses.
