Transitional Environments: understanding the changes in contemporary society

Abstract

Contemporary transitions embody complex social phenomena. The sociological perspective can provide a key to understand these transitions by referring to them as four distinct environments within which the social actor-system relationship evolves. The digital transition, configured as a technical environment, involves not only the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, but also a far-reaching transformation of the production, communication and knowledge patterns. Social actors are called upon to continuously adapt to a context of digitally mediated interaction, reformulating their role within an increasingly complex information system. The environmental transition, seen as a cultural environment, calls for a restructuring of everyday practices and collective mindsets towards greater sustainability, implying a rewriting of the values that guide interactions with the natural surroundings. The social environment, associated with the migratory transition, is characterised by inclusion and exclusion dynamics that challenge existing social structures while requiring new models of governance and multicultural coexistence. Finally, social transition, understood as the regulatory environment, entails a continuous evolution of institutions that are expected to respond to emerging social, economic and technological developments.