The Fluid Society or How Digitalization Transforms Society

Introduction. This article is a chapter and update from the book The Digital Challenge for Europe (2021) and originally appeared in the book De Vloeibare Samenleving (2017). The digitalization of society is driving massive changes in the way people and organizations live and operate, which will eventually necessitate new forms of governance for societies. To better understand this transformation, this article uses the analogy of melting ice. Nation-states can be seen as ice blocks, where everyone is confined within their own borders, language, culture, and religion. But what happens when these nation-states begin to “melt,” when people increasingly move across the globe, work in different places, collaborate internationally from home in various fields, and no longer behave as “bound to their country,” but rather as driven by their interests or professional fields? What kind of world will emerge? And how should such a digitalized world be governed?

Phase Transition from Ice Cubes to Liquid Water. To illustrate the societal transformation brought about by digitalization, comparing it to the melting of ice cubes offers a fitting metaphor. In physics, a “substance” can exist in different phases depending on the circumstances. The three primary and well-known phases are solid, liquid, and gas. A substance like water in its solid phase—an ice cube—has different properties than the same substance in liquid form, although its fundamental molecular structure remains unchanged. In short, changes in circumstances can shift a substance from one phase to another.

Similarly, the author posits that humanity is undergoing a comparable phase transition. Under the pressure of digitalization, humanity is “melting” into a fluid state. Digitalization is altering circumstances so drastically, on such a large scale and at such a rapid pace, that humanity—and by extension, society—is entering a new phase of existence. As long as the forces driving this transformation—digitalization and associated technological advances—persist, the process will continue. Eventually, all individuals capable of adapting to this change—the “fluid” or mobile members of society—will become part of this new phase. Since digitalization is irreversible, it is reasonable to assume that humanity will gradually, yet inexorably, transition into a different societal phase. Collectively, we are moving from a “solid” to a “liquid” state.

Humanity’s Journey to a Fluid, Mobile Society. In this analogy, ice cubes represent nation-states, while water molecules—whether frozen or liquid—symbolize individuals. Humanity is transitioning from solid, traditional societies, each with its own culture, language, and geography, to a digital, fluid, and mobile society. Increasingly, people are becoming “fluid” due to the opportunities offered by digitalization. Currently, we live in a transitional period, spanning a few decades, where elements of both the traditional and the digital societies coexist. Humanity is steadily progressing toward a global, mobile, fluid society. Nonetheless, there will always be “ice cubes”—groups or communities that remain “frozen” within a changing society.

The Classical Industrial Era: A Time of Frozen Societies. During the classical industrial “ice cube” era, only a small elite—scientists, politicians, business leaders, or the wealthy—could transcend the boundaries of the nation-state to work or travel internationally, and even then, this was often approached from a national perspective. For the vast majority, life was confined to their own country. National identity shaped individuals, even when they temporarily or permanently relocated. Other countries were experienced primarily through newspapers, films, or television and were often viewed with suspicion due to limited interaction.

The Digital Phase: Increasing Physical and Digital Mobility.In the digital phase, people around the world are becoming increasingly mobile, both physically and digitally.

Physical mobility refers to individuals who, aided by affordable travel options, the internet, and smartphones, move abroad to live or work, or who flee hardship in search of a better life. Today, hundreds of millions—about 3-4% of the world’s population—are physically mobile. This group includes migrants with smartphones, scientists, tourists, artists, digital nomads, and business professionals.

Digital mobility enables individuals to work from any location. People who work digitally straddle two worlds: their physical location and the digital space in which they conduct their work. The number of digital workers is growing rapidly, with two-thirds of the global population owning a smartphone or computer and the average user spending six hours a day online. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, as teachers, businesses, and organizations shifted to remote, online work. This shift is expected to expand the global population of digitally mobile workers in the coming years.

Living and Working in the Digital Space. During this digital phase transition, more individuals are detaching from their local or national ties, instead living and working in a digital space. This new reality—often called the “new normal”—is akin to water particles melting from ice: people are becoming less place-bound and more integrated into a virtual, fluid, and international environment.

The internet, social media, and smartphones enable nearly every individual to develop themselves independently. Numerous studies show that this is being done eagerly and universally. The smartphone, backed by the internet and social media, is driving an unstoppable wave of emancipation worldwide. People are literally exposed to completely different perspectives than they were often accustomed to in their country, culture, or “ice cube.” This leads to new connections, new business opportunities, new insights, a more open view of their surroundings, greater awareness of the world around them, and liberation from often limited environments.

Governing the Classical and Digital Societies.If classical society resembles ice and digital society resembles liquid water, it becomes clear that these forms require different approaches to governance. Ice societies—nation-states—are structured, cohesive, and governed by national politics, culture, and laws that maintain internal order. But as more ice melts and individuals become mobile, the “water particles” no longer feel bound by these structures. Instead, they flow freely, both physically and digitally, across borders, forming a global, interconnected society.

Mobile individuals—physically and digitally—gravitate to opportunities, whether they seek better living conditions, jobs, or safety. This fluid mobility requires new systems of governance and regulation that reflect the realities of a global society. The shift also hints at a return to a more nomadic state, which may ultimately align with humanity’s natural condition: a global society based on equality and shared resources.

A Dual World: Classical and Digital Realities.Today, we inhabit a dual world. On one hand, the classical, geographically bound, nationally organized society remains, while on the other, a digital, international society emerges, lacking established governance structures. Businesses thrive in the digital world, favoring uniform global laws and regulations. For consumers, the digital world has become an integral part of daily life. However, for workers, the transition is uneven, creating opportunities for some and challenges for others.

Although the comparison between melting ice and a fluid society is not perfect, it offers valuable insights into the changes shaping humanity’s future. Governments and policymakers must address the complexities of this dual world, ensuring that both physically and digitally mobile populations are considered as the digital society continues to expand and reshape classical structures.