Ã mile Durkheim and later theorists , meant with anomie a reaction against or a retreat from the regulatory social controls of society , and is a completely separate concept from anarchy which is an absence of effective rulers or leaders . But , as used by Ã mile Durkheim and later theorists , anomie is a reaction against or a retreat from the regulatory social controls of society , and is a completely separate concept from anarchy which is an absence of effective rulers or leaders .