The Sociology Book

141

increasingly perceived as being
as much the cause of environmental
and sociopolitical problems as they
are the solution. This inevitably
leads to increased skepticism
and general apathy on the part
of the general public.
Liquid modernity has
undermined the certainties of
individuals regarding employment,
education, and welfare. Today,
many workers must either retrain
or change occupation altogether,
sometimes several times—the
notion of a “job for life,” which
was typical in the age of solid
modernity, has been rendered
unrealistic and unachievable.
The practice of “re-engineering,”
or the downsizing of firms—a term
that Bauman borrows from the US
sociologist, Richard Sennett—has
become increasingly common, as
it enables corporations to remain
financially competitive in the
global market by reducing labor
costs significantly. As part of
this process, stable, permanent
work—which typified solid
modernism—is being replaced by
temporary employment contracts
that are issued to a largely mobile
workforce. Closely related to this
occupational instability is the
shifting role and nature of

education. Individuals are

now required to continue their

education—often at their own

expense—throughout their careers

in order to remain up to date with

developments in their respective

professions, or as a means of

ensuring they remain “marketable”

in case of redundancy.

Concurrent with these changes

to employment patterns is the

retreat of the welfare state. What

was once regarded historically as a

reliable “safety net” guarding

against personal misfortune such

as ill-health and unemployment,

state provision of welfare is rapidly

being withdrawn, especially in the

areas of social housing, state-

funded higher education, and

national health care.

Fluid identities

Where solid modernity was based

on the industrial production of

consumer goods in factories and

LIVING IN A GLOBAL WORLD

industrial plants, liquid modernity

is instead based on the rapid and

relentless consumption of consumer

goods and services.

This transition from production

to consumption, says Bauman, is a

result of the dissolution of the social

structures, such as occupation and

nationality, to which identity was

anchored in solid modernity. ❯❯

The key differences between solid and liquid

modernity were identified by Bauman as two

sets of four characteristics.

We live in a globalizing

world. That means all of us,

consciously or not,

depend on each other.

Zygmunt Bauman

Welfare states, as Bauman says, have

been under pressure recently. In the

UK, for example, the National Health

Service is being eroded, despite

widespread support for the system.

Solid modernity Liquid modernity

Movement

Stasis Design

Indeterminacy

Chance

Determinacy Predictability Unpredictability