Review article

Mobility and Socio-Spatial Restructuring

Alija Hodžić orcid.org/0000-0003-3692-4582 ; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

In this paper the author aims to bring together the mobility of contemporary society (its increasingly relevant characteristic) and the “fluidity” of structures and thus socio-spatial restructuring. Some theoretical insights into contemporary global processes are examined;
these processes remain (because of “methodological nationalism”) outside the scope of present day sociology devices. It is assumed that the flexible contemporary accumulation of capital constantly evaluates available resources for its reproduction (in the world where physical proximity does not indicate closeness among people). This results in the increased mobility and restructuring of old socio-spatial entities. It generates instability, temporariness and irregularity as opposed to stability, permanence and regularity. Postsocialist societies, the Croatian society among them, are particularly prone to this kind of
restructuring because of radical changes in the evaluation of resources (from the socialist planned economy to the capitalist market). Not included in this type of reproduction, its currents and networking, these societies (their individuals, groups or collectives) remain on the periphery, isolated in their locality; included, they share the troubles with the rest of the world. More mobility, less isolation.

Keywords

mobility; fluidity; methodological nationalism; flexibility; migration; restructuring

Hrčak ID:

61594

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/61594

Publication date:

2.12.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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