Societal background: towards a new basic model of society?

In recent years the issue of ‘combining professional and family labour’ has appeared centre-stage regarding daily life in all European countries. At the same time, this issue has received much attention in the science and policy fields. Most societal actors are increasingly realising that the daily combination of professional and family labour is the beating heart of societal life. All democratic policy organisations recognise the issue as a major policy challenge on a national and even European level since it concerns many societal actors (men and women, families, companies, clubs and governmental organisations) and many societal fields (employment, family life, labour organisation, childcare, education, mobility and so on).

Consequently, research, debate and policy relating to this issue must be placed within the overall development of society (and all its entities). This book examines the long search for a new integrated approach to the daily life of men and women within the different living arrangements of society (for example, families, clubs, companies, public organisations). In order to present this research clearly and effectively, different types of models have been used.

Each model is the combination of conceptual, empirical and normative dimensions. The conceptual dimension refers to the way we analyse or look at reality. The empirical dimension shows to what extent a (conceptual) model is actually (being) realised. The normative dimension refers to how society should be organised in the future. The permanent interaction between the three dimensions determines the actual overall development of society.

During a long period two basic models co-exist, the old model going downward and losing influence while the new one gains influence. A new basic model is partly a reaction against and a rejection of the previous model, but at the same time it is partly a continuation of the previous model, preserving a number of (positive and negative) elements.

In general, the development of western societies is illustrated by means of a number of successive basic models. Figure 1.1 shows three basic models for 1750-2150, each with a life span of about two centuries. The models vary, of course, from country to country.

A basic model of society is an overall framework of the structure and functioning of society and its different actors, representing different variants.