Freedom, liquidity and happiness

The famous bestseller by Zygmunt Bauman (1925–2017), Liquid Modernity (2000), was the best sociological synthesis of the transformations underway at the beginning of the new millennium. According to Bauman’s studies, modernity can be divided into an initial solid phase, now past, and a second liquid phase, the current one. Solid modernity was characterized by the idea of building a new, more rational order of society. The second modernity has abandoned every ideal of stability and lives under the banner of perpetual change. Freedom ends up generating a state of provisionality and the disintegration of all relationships. This condition of “excessive freedom” produces paralyzing uncertainty and a tremendous sense of insecurity. Especially in the West, the inhabitants of liquid modernity are the protagonists of a major transformation in relationships among people. For several Western countries, becoming freer and more liquid has also brought the surprise of finding themselves more unhappy.

In the Global Flourishing Study 2025, Indonesia is the most flourishing country in the world, and Southeast Asian nations generally achieve high scores thanks to strong community values and social relationships, which often matter more than material wealth in determining perceived well-being.

Indonesia tops the index with a score of 8.10, followed closely by the Philippines (7.71) and Hong Kong (7.12). This indicates that a strong sense of community, purpose, and social connection among people, within families and across generations, are the main factors determining perceived well-being in these countries. The report emphasizes that high material prosperity does not automatically translate into a high sense of flourishing. For example, Japan—like other wealthy countries in Europe—despite its economic and technological progress, ranks lower with a score of 5.89, suggesting a potential gap in the immaterial aspects of life, such as meaning and family and social relationships. Southeast Asian nations, in particular, excel at fostering environments in which people feel confident and fulfilled about their future, highlighting the importance of community support networks and emotional well-being.

The index measures six fundamental domains of human flourishing: happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, and financial and material stability. Asian countries often show high results in terms of relational satisfaction and sense of purpose. Overall, the report suggests that strong social and community values are a significant factor contributing to the high levels of reported flourishing in several Asian states.

Sandro Calvani
NP December 2025