CONSUMER SOCIETY AND ARMED CONFLICTS IN CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Abstract

In this paper the author describes the significance of consumer society in restricting conflicts in the contemporary world. He presents the selected concepts of consumer society. In addition, he concentrates on the features typical of consumer society, particularly the role of the culture of consumption, consumerism, individualism, cultural narcissism, consumer freedom, and an ability to expand through the means of patterns and the systems of values characteristic of consumer society on the inhabitants of developing countries. The paper most frequently describes the conflicts associated with the sphere of consumption, including those related to the exclusion of large social groups from consumption. The author points to the features of consumer society which minimize the occurrence of armed conflicts in highly developed countries. By employing the concept of G. Lipovetsky concerning fashion society, the author indicates that the expansion of consumer society to Third World countries may restrict the occurrence of armed conflicts.