Sociology and Sustainable Development: The Paradigm Is Going to Change

In a complex society, challenges are characterized by multiple factors. Societal inequalities are known to be the result of large-scale economic, social, and geographical trends and events, as well as the product of specific social and political choices. These conditions of inequality represent a major challenge and evidence the urgent need for policies aimed at reducing such differences, in line with the sustainability objectives proposed by the UN Agenda 2030. This chapter investigates the possibility of introducing a paradigm shift, through the adoption of innovative approaches to the identification of priorities and elaboration of policies in the face of social and political change. We apply a transdisciplinary perspective in an effort to elaborate a vision of a possible post-digital social structure in which these issues are addressed. We also consider whether the paradigm of sustainable development, in light of the studies on circular economy, may also bring innovative ideas and methods to sociology itself.