Transformation of forms of social consolidation in the context of global crises and civilizational shifts of the 21st century

Abstract

Introduction. In the 21st century, transformational processes are taking place within the structure of social life: the development of innovative digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and global networks is radically reshaping forms of communication and social interaction. At the same time, crisis tendencies are intensifying at both global and local levels - political polarization, hybrid conflicts (wars), and the erosion of trust in institutions threaten traditional mechanisms of social consolidation. Under these conditions, the study of the nature and forms of social consolidation, as well as the analysis of their transformation in response to global and national instability, becomes particularly relevant. Purpose. To analyze contemporary forms of social consolidation and to determine the vectors of their evolution within the context of civilizational and socio-political changes of the 21st century. Methods. The research employs interdisciplinary and comparative-analytical methods, which make it possible to examine the phenomenon of social consolidation at the intersection of sociological, political, and cultural approaches. The analysis is based on a structural-functional approach, which enables the identification of mechanisms and patterns in the transformation of forms of social consolidation depending on the existing socio-political global and glocal context. Results. The conducted research clearly demonstrates that traditional institutional and value-normative forms of social consolidation show a declining integrative potential under the conditions of international relations crises, increasing digitalization, political fragmentation, and growing social entropy. It has been established that modern society is characterized by a transition from vertically institutional mechanisms of unity to hybrid network formats of interaction, based on horizontal connections and communicative integration. The effectiveness of consolidation processes directly correlates with the level of trust, inclusivity, and adaptability (flexibility) of social institutions. Conclusions. In the 21st century, social consolidation acquires the character of a complex, dynamic, and multi-level system that ensures the coordination of interests and the reproduction of social order in conditions of global turbulence. The evolution of its forms requires a rethinking of theoretical and methodological foundations and the development of mechanisms for synthesizing institutional, network, and cultural-civilizational resources, as well as for finding an optimal balance between traditional and innovative forms of social consolidation. The absence of adaptive transformation leads to degradation, reduced public trust, and the loss of collective action capacity, thereby threatening the stability of society as a system. Thus, the renewal of forms of social consolidation represents a strategic condition for maintaining the integrity and development of the modern state.