Involution

Involtation (from the Latin involuntio - “twisting”) is a profound change in the social structure of society during the change of eras or during any large-scale events occurring in society, for example, in a revolution, which leads to the replacement of the old state and its norms with a life based on new values ​​that differ significantly from the previous social structure and norms.

***Stages of involution***

The most famous are two approaches to understanding the involutionary process. According to representatives of the first of them, involution means the complete decline of civilization, the loss of the achievements of the past, science, art, and culture. This also implies a significant revaluation of values, which inevitably occurs at the very end of the involutionary phase of development of every full-fledged society. Thus, the English writer Smarple, predicting the imminent end of Western civilization, calls involution the last stage of the evolution of society and builds almost all new theories for it: “We have no choice but to sacrifice peace and culture to the scientific solution of problems:

Involution in biology. In biology, the word “involution” is used to denote processes of reverse development, to describe states or systems that lose their potential for development. It is also widely known for its use in the context of social theories and psychological concepts. These theories argue that the negative meanings of the consequences of social processes themselves can lead to negative consequences, when

Involution: a reverse development process?

In everyday life, we rarely think about the origin of some words or concepts, but it’s not in vain that they came to us. The origin of the word involution goes back to Latin, specifically to the noun “involutio”, meaning the process of bending. Translated into Russian, this concept sounds like “folding”, “folding”. Somewhat later, the word “organ involution” appeared in medicine, and already in the mid-19th century it found its way into politics and management theory. When it came to the decline or deterioration of any process, it was compared to involution. “The decline of morals,” some said. “The involution of capitalism in the Soviet Union,” others wrote. But what does this word actually mean? Why do we need it and why is it so popular? To find the answers, you need to go through a little historical path.

Involution has many definitions and can be viewed from different perspectives. For example, in economics this is a process of slowing growth and reducing production. This phenomenon occurs on the supply or demand side, which determines the state of the market. However, there is an opinion that involution is not a negative process, as it might seem at first glance. Instead, it can be seen as an opportunity to adapt, improve processes and introduce new solutions. We can say that this is a temporary deterioration, which after the crisis will lead to a new stage of development, better and more profitable.

Sociology examines involution through contradictions in society and the system of relations between people. It is believed that the main reason for involution is differences in social status, as well as society’s attitude towards the elite and politics. This manifests itself in increased aggression and xenophobia. Thus, sociologists cite as an example the situation in Ukraine, where revolutionary events gave impetus to the development of negative consequences and the decline of culture and democratic processes.

The concept of involution became widespread at the end of the 20th century, when the theory of modern society gave rise to the emergence of postmodernity. According to philosophers, new times require change. Involution is viewed precisely in this light. It is a consequence of human activity who strives for harmony between nature and technological achievements. The transition to the next stages of progress requires adaptation and adaptation, which is an involutionary process. Such processes lead to a gap between the past and the future, limiting and creating new alternatives and opportunities.

Thus, involution is not only a temporary lull, but also a catalyst for change, a transition to the next level. This does not mean that it is necessary to abandon innovations or forget about what has been achieved in the past. Involutionary processes change and strengthen the system as a whole, making it possible to get away from inefficiency and avoid repeating old mistakes.