Durkheim, Émile

Émile Durkheim was a foundational French sociologist who studied how societies maintain stability and cohesion. He believed that shared values, norms, and social institutions—like family, education, and religion—bind people together, creating a sense of collective consciousness. Durkheim emphasized that society is more than just a collection of individuals; it’s an interconnected system where social facts influence behavior. His work helped establish sociology as an academic discipline and provided insights into how social order is maintained, how individuals relate to society, and what happens when social bonds weaken.