declension

[nimsooze]

please help me find what means "declension"in the following sentence:
"The classical liberal subject strived to preserve its identity and autonomy along with its plurality; now in a drastic declension of that process , the subject of a more advanced phase of middle-class society is compelled to sacrifice its truth and identity to its plurality"

[Tdol]

It can mean that something is turning something worse or going down.

[nimsooze]

how about "deviation"?

[Tdol]

Why? A deviation is a change in direction and it implies that they could return. It could work, but it doesn't necessarily capture the ideas of it being a deterioration.