ABSTRACT
We are inclined to compare the present with the past. Due to impressive technological progression we have means of transport and communication that we could not have imagined in the past and that have changed our world dramatically. Looking at societal developments we usually emphasize the differences with the past and forget about the common threads between the now and the then. But is the now really that different from the past or are we simply labelling it “renewed”, in the same way as we do with washing powders? Concentrating on the three central themes of this book, it is tempting to characterize present-day society with labels such as individualization, globalization and decreasing solidarity. After all, is it not true that modern humans are extremely individualized, making their own choices, and solely concerned about their own lives? Is the impact of globalization not visible through the variety of foreign products, the increasing number of migrants, and the ever-increasing power of international organizations? And in earlier times, were we not more willing to assist each other? In that case, individualization and globalization have led to the demise of solidarity, right? Clearly, individualization and globalization belong to the now, and solidarity is part of the past.
