scholarly journals Sociology of Social Structure and Sociologists Working in Totalitarian and Post-Totalitarian Regimes in Central Europe, 1945–1989

Stan Rzeczy ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. 21-43
Author(s):  
Georges Mink
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Post War ◽  
Political Spectrum ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
Totalitarian Regimes

The model of society put forward by Marxist theoreticians as descriptive of a post-revolutionary society had a quasi-constitutional status in countries that claimed to adhere to Soviet-type socialism, particularly those of Eastern Europe. As the model’s main function was to legitimise the actions of those who wielded power, it acquired doctrinal significance. In the Eastern European countries, the history of the sociology of social structure and stratification clearly illustrates the conservative nature of official doctrine. However, the real mechanisms of society, in so far as they deviated from the official paradigm, upset doctrinal stability and may consequently have led, if not to a revision of the official dogmas, then to the acceptance of a certain degree of flexibility. In order to understand the development of the theoretical analysis of social stratification and social inequalities (the most sensitive area of debate) in totalitarian and post-totalitarian Soviet type societies, it must be noted that post-war sociology has reflected a continuing effort by sociologists to create an independent scientific framework for their discipline. This is why we try, in this article, to combine evaluating the attitudes of different Eastern European sociologists from across the political spectrum with the evolution and adaptation of their theoretical approaches and creativity.

European Integration

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann P. Arnason
Keyword(s):  
European Integration ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Historical Processes ◽  
History Of ◽  
External Conditions ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
Totalitarian Regimes ◽  
The Eu

Different understandings of European integration, its background and present problems are represented in this book, but they share an emphasis on historical processes, geopolitical dynamics and regional diversity. The introduction surveys approaches to the question of European continuities and discontinuities, before going on to an overview of chapters. The following three contributions deal with long-term perspectives, including the question of Europe as a civilisational entity, the civilisational crisis of the twentieth century, marked by wars and totalitarian regimes, and a comparison of the European Union with the Habsburg Empire, with particular emphasis on similar crisis symptoms. The next three chapters discuss various aspects and contexts of the present crisis. Reflections on the Brexit controversy throw light on a longer history of intra-Union rivalry, enduring disputes and changing external conditions. An analysis of efforts to strengthen the EU’s legal and constitutional framework, and of resistances to them, highlights the unfinished agenda of integration. A closer look at the much-disputed Islamic presence in Europe suggests that an interdependent radicalization of Islamism and the European extreme right is a major factor in current political developments. Three concluding chapters adopt specific regional perspectives. Central and Eastern European countries, especially Poland, are following a path that leads to conflicts with dominant orientations of the EU, but this also raises questions about Europe’s future. The record of Scandinavian policies in relation to Europe exemplifies more general problems faced by peripheral regions. Finally, growing dissonances and divergences within the EU may strengthen the case for Eurasian perspectives.

scholarly journals Objectives and Principles of Administrative Proceedings: Doctrinal Ideas and Legislative Wordings of the Eastern European Countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris V. Makogon ◽  
Mihail I. Nikulin ◽  
Valerij N. Samsonov ◽  
Marina A. Sorokoletova ◽  
Olesya O. Tovstukha
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Systematic Reflection ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
Administrative Proceedings

This article examines the theoretical approaches and legislative decisions of the Eastern European states’ cocerning the purposes and principles of administrative proceedings. Based on the analysis of relevant scientific works and legislation, it has been concluded that both the objectives of administrative proceedings and its principles relate to the human rights and freedoms. At the same time, the doctrinally articulated objectives do not find their systematic reflection in the legislation, and the principles are a universal legal element that determines the relationships between the executive authorities and citizens.

Exclusion of Muslims in Eastern Europe and Western Europe. A Comparative Analysis of Anti-Muslim Attitudes in France, Norway, Poland and Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-142
Author(s):  
David Andreas Bell ◽  
Zan Strabac
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Muslim Immigrants ◽  
Eastern European Countries

There are worrying signs of rising intolerance towards Muslim immigrants in the majority of European societies. We use data from the 2014/2015 wave of European Social Survey to analyse negative attitudes toward Muslim immigrants in France, Norway, Poland and the Czech Republic. Results of the analyses reveal that both levels and determinants of the anti-Muslim attitudes vary greatly. The levels are highest in Czech Republic and Poland, the two countries that have a very low Muslim population. Nevertheless, contact with immigrants reduces hostility toward Muslims also in these two countries. We find that theoretical approaches commonly used in studies of anti-immigrant attitudes are better suited to explain negative attitudes in Western European than in Eastern European countries. We argue that future research on hostility toward immigrants in Europe should focus more on Eastern European countries, as attitudes toward immigrants in several of these are worryingly negative.

scholarly journals Lonely societies: low trust societies? Further explanations for national variations in loneliness among older Europeans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gražina Rapolienė ◽  
Marja Aartsen
Keyword(s):  
Social Engagement ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Path Model ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Dichotomous Outcome ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
Totalitarian Regimes

AbstractCross-national studies in Europe reveal sharp regional differences in the prevalence of loneliness among older adults, with the highest prevalence of loneliness in Eastern European countries. In this study, we investigate an alternative explanation for differences in loneliness prevalence based on differences in trust. Many of the Eastern European countries were ruled by totalitarian regimes that undermined people’s trust in other people and in the system, potentially leading to higher loneliness prevalence. Data are derived from the sixth round of the European Social Survey conducted in 2012, based on 12,042 respondents, of which 4827 live in post-totalitarian countries and 7215 in other European countries and Israel. We estimate a path model with trust in people, trust in the system, and social engagement included as latent variables and one dichotomous outcome (lonely or not). We control for age, gender, health limitations, marital status, income adequacy, and education. The results reveal that loneliness is partly constructed by the social–cultural and historical–political characteristics of the countries in which people live. The higher prevalence of loneliness in the Eastern-European post-totalitarian countries can be linked to a low level of trust in other people through social disengagement. Considering the role of trust in the creation of individuals feelings of loneliness contributes to the understanding of country variations in loneliness and opens a new perspective in loneliness research and the development of policies aimed at reducing loneliness.

scholarly journals SOCIAL INEQUALITY IN EDUCATION ANALYZED WITHIN VARIOUS THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS

2017 ◽  
pp. 025
Author(s):  
Lela Milošević Radulović ◽  
Suzana Marković Krstić
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Radical Theory ◽  
Educational Capital ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Inequality In Education ◽  
The Relationship

The expansion of education and the mass inclusion of generations in certain levels of education have not reduced inequality in education. There have still been numerous causes and forms of social inequality, with far-reaching consequences. The consequences of social inequalities in education are very complex and are manifested in the form of reproduction of social inequality, that is, the self-reproduction of social stratification and the reproduction of economic inequality. Scientists working in various fields deal with the clarification of the problems of social inequality in education and everyone can, from their own standpoint, attempt to discover the basic causes of these inequalities so as to overcome them. In paper we have shown four current theoretical approaches to the problem of social inequality in education: the functionalist theory, radical theory, theory of educational capital and theory of cultural deprivation. Every approach from its own standpoint tries to indicate the relationship between the educational system and social structure, as well as the possibility of overcoming certain social inequality. Based on the analysis of the basic tenets of various theoretical approaches to inequality in education conceptualized the initial hypotheses as the foundation for the functioning of the educational system in the future, based on the principles of meritocracy.

scholarly journals Present Russia in a sociological mirror (about Zinaida Golenkov's studies related to social structure of contemporary Russia)

2005 ◽  
pp. 37-47
Author(s):  
Zoran Vidojevic
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Large Country ◽  
The Social ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Sociological Thought ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Unemployed

In many aspects, sociological thought in present Russia is a mirror of the condition and key social processes occurring in that large country. They are basically the same as the processes which have already been under way in the majority of other societies in the region of former real-socialism. Therefore the results acquired by the sociological thought in Russia specially those from empirical researches, are significant for the scientific and broader social public in other countries, too. In that sense, the findings obtained by Zinaida Golenkova in the research about the changes of the social structure in present Russia are representative and very indicative. Her researches concentrate on the social stratification. She concludes that the government, income and ownership are the main factors in social stratification, thus revealing the main factors in the creation and reproduction of social inequalities - which are very deep in present Russia - then the basis of the formation of a new social structure in that country and the division into losers and winners in the ownership-structural changes. The key relation is the relation between these changes and "deetatization". The middle class in Russia is underdeveloped, more than a half of the specialists with the high and secondary education is poor. In spite of the widespread poverty, there are no larger social protests, disturbances and strikes in Russia. This could be explained by the tradition of forbearance political aparthy, struggle for survival, as well as by the additional income of one part of the unemployed population. Material-status inequalities and life perspectives intersect with ethnic inequalities and with the destiny of numerous migrants of Russian and non-Russian origin.

scholarly journals Left-wing authoritarianism is not a myth, but a worrisome reality. Evidence from 13 Eastern European countries

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina de Regt ◽  
Dimitri Mortelmans ◽  
Tim Smits
Keyword(s):  
European Population ◽  
Political Orientation ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Heated Debate ◽  
Political Spectrum ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
Communist Countries

A sometimes heated debate between authoritarianism researchers takes place on the issue of authoritarianism on the left. Some researchers argue that authoritarianism is typical for right-wing political orientation while other researchers assert that authoritarianism can also be found at the left side of the political spectrum. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, we aim to contribute to the ongoing discussion on left-wing authoritarianism. Using representative samples, the relationship between authoritarianism and political preferences is examined in 13 ex-communist Eastern European countries. Employing six different indicators of left-wing/communist political orientations make clear that, despite cross-national differences, left-wing authoritarianism is definitely not a myth in Eastern European countries. Second, it was aimed to survey whether authoritarian persons in Eastern European countries might be a possible threat for the transition to democracy. Based upon five items it was demonstrated that in general the Eastern European population seems to hold a positive opinion on democracy. However, it becomes also clear that authoritarian persons in the ex-communist countries are significantly less positive towards democracy.

scholarly journals (Soc)realisms in practice: Re-reading the Soviet experience in the 1930s

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-181
Author(s):  
Magistris de
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Socialist Realism ◽  
Postwar Period ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Theoretical Determination ◽  
Post War ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
Soviet Experience

The discourse on realism in contemporary architectural debate seems to circumvent the complexity of the historical roots of this phenomenon in the twentieth century architecture and, in particular, the discourse on socialist realism: a source of many perspectives gravitating around the idea of realism in postwar period and constituting a significant moment in the theoretical debate and design practice between the thirties and the fifties, until the death of Stalin. The aim of this article is to propose an articulated reflection on the experience of socrealism, explored in its "formative" years, in the crucial phase of its elaboration. Far from being the result of a rigid, top-down theoretical determination, realism was defined in a pragmatic way, on many worksites of design practice and theory. The eclecticism and plurality of its expressions, gravitating around the idea of critical assimilation of history, explains the developments of the socrealism between war and post-war in The USSR and in Eastern European countries and finds its clearest statement in the Moscow metro.

Pragmatic Language Performance of Children Adopted Internationally

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 501-514
Author(s):  
Deborah A. Hwa-Froelich ◽  
Hisako Matsuo
Keyword(s):  
Social Communication ◽  
False Belief ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Language Performance ◽  
Emotion Identification ◽  
False Belief Understanding ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Pragmatic Communication ◽  
Eastern European Countries

Purpose Pragmatic language is important for social communication across all settings. Children adopted internationally (CAI) may be at risk of poorer pragmatic language because of adverse early care, delayed adopted language development, and less ability to inhibit. The purpose of this study was to compare pragmatic language performance of CAI from Asian and Eastern European countries with a nonadopted group of children who were of the same age and from similar socioeconomic backgrounds as well as explore the relationship among emotion identification, false belief understanding, and inhibition variables with pragmatic language performance. Method Using a quasi-experimental design, 35 four-year-old CAI (20 Asian, 15 Eastern European) and 33 children who were not adopted were included in this study. The children's pragmatic language, general language, and social communication (emotion identification of facial expressions, false belief understanding, inhibition) were measured. Comparisons by region of origin and adoption experience were completed. We conducted split-half correlation analyses and entered significant correlation variables into simple and backward regression models. Results Pragmatic language performance differed by adoption experience. The adopted and nonadopted groups demonstrated different correlation patterns. Language performance explained most of the pragmatic language variance. Discussion Because CAI perform less well than their nonadopted peers on pragmatic communication measures and different variables are related to their pragmatic performance, speech-language pathologists may need to adapt assessment and intervention practices for this population.

Knowledge about basic life support in European students

2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (21) ◽  
pp. 833-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
József Marton ◽  
Attila Pandúr ◽  
Emese Pék ◽  
Krisztina Deutsch ◽  
Bálint Bánfai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basic Life Support ◽  
Life Support ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
European Students ◽  
Western European ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
European Youth

Introduction: Better knowledge and skills of basic life support can save millions of lives each year in Europe. Aim: The aim of this study was to measure the knowledge about basic life support in European students. Method: From 13 European countries 1527 volunteer participated in the survey. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic questions and knowledge regarding basic life support. The maximum possible score was 18. Results: Those participants who had basic life support training earned 11.91 points, while those who had not participated in lifesaving education had 9.6 points (p<0.001). Participants from former socialist Eastern European countries reached 10.13 points, while Western Europeans had average 10.85 points (p<0.001). The best results were detected among the Swedish students, and the worst among the Belgians. Conclusions: Based on the results, there are significant differences in the knowledge about basic life support between students from different European countries. Western European youth, and those who were trained had better performance. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(21), 833–837.

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