Zeitverhältnisse und die Krise der modernen Gesellschaft

Abstract

The article deals with the relationship between the structural dynamics and the time regime of society. If the premises of system theory, critical theory and discourse analysis are related to each other, a resonance theory can be developed by which resonance distributions between social areas can be analyzed. This theoretical foundation enables us to describe social transformation processes and criticize them as a crisis diagnosis of modernity. Our investigation is guided by the following thesis: The structural dynamics of society and the associated time relationships are dependent on a prevailing social resonance pattern that leads to a hegemonic time regime. Although alternatives to this pattern of resonance are possible and they are also visible in society in numerous and varied ways. But they become less likely, the more powerfully the hegemonic discourse in the political enforces the hegemonic time regime against alternatives. Through our analytical framework, we observe the contemporary conditions of antagonism between the hegemonic innovation regime and the anti-hegemonic sustainability discourse.