The resilience concept in sociology

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce the social dimension of the term resilience which is different than all the other theoretical disciplines that use this term. The connection between the concept of resilience and the theory of social systems is viewed from a critical standpoint, and also with different ontological perspectives in regard to understanding resilience. The resilience as it exists in ecological or socio - ecological theories in social reality is more complex when considering social relations and changes that have different effects on functionality, adaptability and transformational capacities of society and its units. In regard to that, the constructivist approach offers an analytical framework that includes two tasks. On the one hand, the discovery of the interpretative meaning of social resilience as a concept, and on the other hand, using the normative neutral approach as a way of dealing with various social situations that are burdened with risks, troubles, but also with possibilities.

Keywords

• resilience
• system
• adaptation
• transformation
• perspective