The precariat as Bauman’s flawed consumers

In this paper, the authors analyse Bauman?s interpretation of the precariat within the context of his explanation of consumer society and the new forms of fear it generates. According to Bauman, anxiety stemming from the fear of becoming poor - rendering individuals ?flawed consumers? - is a significant source of unease in today?s fluid world. Acknowledging the criticisms that can be directed at Bauman?s thought in general, including reflections on the precariat, and in particular the lack of empirical foundation and insufficiently clear and precise boundaries of the term, the authors try to demonstrate the usefulness of Bauman?s eclectic and holistic approach for analysing precarity as a multidimensional phenomenon, from the insecurity of work and economic positions to identity crises and the transformation of interpersonal relations within a consumer society. The explanatory potential of Bauman?s approach to the precariat and the notion of the ?flawed consumers? enrich our understanding of the relationship between the precariat and consumer society. This perspective goes beyond merely depicting the precariat?s role in production or its position within the labour market; it also illuminates the broader social consequences that precarity brings to the overall system. In doing so, it reveals how precarity contributes to the emergence of new fears and reflects the principles underlying its functioning in other interpersonal relationships. Overall, while Bauman?s writing may come across as essayistic and occasionally overly poetic, his insights remain relevant and plausible for contemporary sociological explanations.