Individualization and processes of identity construction today: the perspective of François de Singly

Abstract

This paper presents reflections by François de Singly, considered today one of the most influential character in French sociology, professor of sociology at the Faculté des Sciences Humaines et Sociales – Sorbonne of the Université Paris Descartes (France) and also a researcher of Cerlis (Centre de Recherche sur les Liens Sociaux), associated with CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). The strength of Singly´s argumentation, the creativity and consistence of his analyses, the breadth of the bibliographical references that support his views, the rigor of his empirical work and, especially, the up-to-dateness of the problems he deals with represent a creative intercommunication with all those interested in understanding the particularity of the processes of formation of the contemporary individual within a hybrid context of multiple references for identity construction. His efforts to build a theoretical and analytical framework capable of integrating micro and macro dimensions are undoubtedly remarkable as it turns out to be an effective support for today´s debate about burning issues in the human and social sciences.

Processes of individualization; Identity construction; Contemporary society; Social bonds; Sociology of the relational individual