In a thought-provoking seminar hosted at Chile’s Centro de Estudios Públicos (CEP) in late August, Columbia University Professor of Sociology David Stark, addressed the intricate dynamics of the performance society. His insights shed light on the pervasive nature of competition and its far-reaching impact on various facets of social life. The seminar was organized in conjunction with the presentation of his latest book, “The Performance Complex: Competition and Competitions in Social Life” (Oxford University Press, 2020).
The central theme of the seminar revolved around Stark's exploration of how competition serves as a foundational element of our social existence. He also offered insights into how competition influences individual and collective behavior, shaping societies and economies.
He started by delving into the concept of performance and explaining how it is shaped by competition, discussing how individuals, organizations, and even nations engage in competition to achieve success and recognition. Next, he argued that competitions are not merely events but are embedded in social processes that influence behavior, decisions, and outcomes across different domains. He also emphasized the importance of competition in driving economic growth and efficiency, and explored competitions in the realm of cultural production where artists and creators contend for attention and acclaim. Moreover, Stark also analyzed how competition shapes political strategies and outcomes, and argued that it can be a powerful driver of progress and improvement. Finally, he reviewed how social networks are intertwined with competitions, and discussed how connections and affiliations can impact people’s ability to compete effectively.
During his presentation, Stark, who also serves as the Director of Columbia’s Center on Organizational Innovation, highlighted the contradictory nature of the performance society: “The lived paradox of the performance society is the search to find what is not planned, managed, scripted, or staged, even while hoping that this moment will be captured in a digital form that can be instantaneously disseminated to one's friends and followers,” he stated.
Stark’s address was followed by a conversation with moderator Aldo Mascareño, Senior Researcher at CEP and Sociology Professor at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, and a round of questions from the audience present at the auditorium, predominantly composed of sociology students who follow Stark’s work, which has contributed to the field of sociology and to the understanding of competition as a fundamental aspect of human interaction.
