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Society Lost: Understanding Disorientation, Conflict, and RenewalBy Udaya R. TennakoonIn a world marked by political instability, economic uncertainty, and cultural fragmentation, many nations face a profound sense of disorientation. Society Lost examines how societies lose their way-ethically, structurally, and emotionally-when confronted with crisis, conflict, and the slow erosion of shared values. Drawing from philosophy, sociology, and conflict studies, this book provides a powerful framework for understanding why communities break down and how they can rebuild.At the heart of the book is the idea that societies "become lost" in two interconnected ways:From within, through loss of meaning, moral decay, and the breakdown of social cohesion.From above, through systemic violence, inequality, political dysfunction, and crisis-driven normalization of suffering.Using Sri Lanka as a vivid example-yet speaking to global conditions-Udaya R. Tennakoon shows how long-term conflict, structural violence, corruption, and cultural trauma create a society where crisis becomes normal and disorientation becomes a way of life.The book draws on major thinkers to build a multidimensional view of social collapse:Friedrich Nietzsche on the erosion of moral frameworks and the rise of nihilism.Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre on alienation, absurdity, and responsibility.Karl Marx and Antonio Gramsci on systemic inequality and cultural domination.Zygmunt Bauman on liquid modernity, social fragmentation, and instability.Johan Galtung on structural and cultural violence and the roots of protracted conflict.By weaving these perspectives together, Society Lost reveals how existential despair, political crisis, and social injustice reinforce each other-creating societies that cannot find orientation or unity. It also highlights how these patterns are reproduced over generations, eventually becoming accepted as "normal."But the book does not end in despair. Tennakoon offers a path toward renewal. He argues that rebuilding a society requires:Reviving ethical foundations and shared values.Strengthening democratic institutions.Confronting systemic injustice and structural violence.Cultivating critical thinking, empathy, and civic responsibility.Reimagining collective purpose beyond ethnic, religious, or class divides.Written in a clear and compelling style, Society Lost is both an intellectual investigation and a call for moral and social transformation. It will be especially valuable for readers interested in sociology, philosophy, political science, peace studies, or understanding the deeper forces shaping conflict-prone societies. It also serves as a reflective companion for anyone who has lived through crisis and seeks to understand the world around them.Whether you are a student, researcher, policymaker, or concerned citizen, Society Lost provides the tools to see beyond symptoms and address the root causes of societal breakdown. It is a book for those who believe that a better, more resilient, and more humane society is possible-and who wish to contribute to its creation. As a Diaspora Poet, he lives in Zürich, Switzerland, but his home country is Sri Lanka, where he was born in 1970. Being a political refugee, he sees the world in many perspectives and engages with writing, theater, and research. Tennakoon graduated from University of Colombo and University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. At the University of Basel, Switzerland, and also at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, He has studied 'History' in his bachelor, 'Drama and Theater' and 'Peace and Conflict Transformation' for my master Studies. As a writer, he has published several books in Sinhala and has done some theater works. He contributes articles to many websites and also as a social activist, he has been engaging with many voluntary works inside Switzerland and Europe as well as outside in Nepal and Sri Lanka.