Search

Social trust and political trust are, amongst others, key social capital factors. This paper examines the accuracy of their measurement and comparability across different time periods. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) is performed and different levels of measurement invariance (configural, metric and scalar) are tested. Data used are from European Social Survey for the years 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, in relation to Spanish citizens. Factor means for social and political trust are compared across time in Spain. Political and social trust show stability across time, except in 2004 with a higher level of political trust and 2006 with a higher level of social trust in Spain. Comparison with traditional composite scores shows the inaccuracy of such measurement for data comparison across time. Finally, consequences of using inaccurate measurements, and methodological recommendations concerning model fit structural equation models are delineated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the political responsibilities of women in local governments of 155 town councils across Spain. The main objective is to examine the situation of female politicians within municipal governments, focusing on the division of power roles (vertical segregation) and the different areas of government (horizontal segregation). We suggest that the gender roles/stereotypes approach may explain the situation of women in formal politics and the inequalities that we have found in these local governments. This approach is combined with the power theory. Thus, a key factor in explaining this situation may also be the dominant role of men in traditional power structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents research findings that focus on analyzing the conditions that enable and/or complicate the development of the critical intercultural approach in Pre-schools and Primary schools. To this end, three case studies were conducted in schools in the Spanish Autonomous Region of Andalusia. The main data production techniques used were: participatory observation, interviews and documentary analysis. The results are organized around three dimensions of analysis: the concept of inequality and/or diversity as a driving force for change in schools and the opening-up of the school setting as a challenge/ reproduction of cultural homogeneity and hegemony. The findings show how the dynamics and interactions that exist within these schools provide opportunities but also create limitations when it comes to shaping new intercultural realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before the rural exodus of the 1950s in Italy, a symbolic and reverse exodus took place. The symbolic capital of modern culture penetrated into the farming world. Society has particular mechanisms in place to relieve pressures, thereby also announcing and preparing for social changes. This paper analyses one of these mechanisms, namely family photography between the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Through some singular portraits, we see the 'dispatcher' role that photography played in the interstices of society between psychological, social, and material realities: a junction of emotions, a mediator between the rural and urban worlds, a rite of passage that channels drives, and a yardstick of what society considers to be correct or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes and explains the recent trends in life expectancy at birth in Spain from an interdisciplinary perspective. It is based on two methods: segmented linear regression, and decomposition of life expectancy. The study consists of three sections. First, a description is provided of the demographic factors that explain the increase in the life expectancy at birth of the Spanish population from 1910 to 2009, which is in excess of 40 years. Second, the effect that changes in mortality have had on life expectancy at birth during 1980-2009 is analysed by cause of death of the population aged 65 and above. And third, the social and epidemiological causes underlying that increase are described. It is concluded that the increase of life expectancy at birth in Spain is mainly due to the reduction of mortality at advanced ages and a decrease in cardiovascular mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates public and private (household) spending per student on education in early childhood, primary and secondary education in Spain, in public educational institutions and in publicly-funded private educational institutions. We use 2007 data from the Household Spending on Education Survey and the Statistics on Public Spending on Education. Public expenditure on education per student in publicly-funded private educational institutions was 49.9% that spent on public educational institutions. The cost assumed by families in public institutions was 38.7% that spent on publicly-funded private educational institutions. The total expenditure per student on publicly-funded private educational institutions was 66.9% that spent on public educational institutions. Enrollment in publicly-funded private educational institutions implies a reduction of public expenditure on education and the transfer of part of those educational expenses to families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is proposed as a critical approach to normativism and rational-action based sociological models, starting from the idea that they overrate the capacities of agents to understand and evaluate the mechanisms of social life. In opposition to these theoretical approaches, we suggest that contingency and failure (not taken into account by these approaches) appear as constant realities, inevitable and appropriate for understanding social action. In this journey we rely on Ramos' proposal on the tragic dimension of action, in addition to the reformulation by Arendt of Heidegger's concept of care. Finally, we critique the role assigned to certain experts in the current scenario of economic crisis,from presumption of the ability to predict and correct social paths, pushing for success as a goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spanish religious indicators have experienced one of the most drastic declines in Europe. The low levels of church attendance and religious denomination contributed to reject the perception of religiosity as a relevant explanatory factor of electoral behavior . However, leaders continued introducing debated related to secular education, divorce and abortion not only during the eighties, but also more recently from 2004 to 2011. The facts encourage us to reconsider the strength of the religious vote. Is the political elite able to mobilize religious voting through the inclusion of such issues in the electoral debate? In this paper I demonstrate that religiosity has been and still is a key element to understand Spanish electoral behavior, especially in those elections in which the political elite has focused the debate on issues related to moral issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper analyses and revises the latest Democracy Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit in the United Kingdom. We analyze the changes produced in the index from 2006 to 2011, as well as in the five basic factors that constitute the index: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. The analysis of these factors --measured by sixty variables-- has made it possible to develop a new index, based on the data from 167 countries, and calculate a revised ranking. Countries have been classified into four types: democracies, flawed democracies, mixed systems, and authoritarian/totalitarian regimes. The new index permits a better understanding of the impact of the crisis through variables such as economic growth, human development, quality of life, corruption, and violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for measuring the commitment of Spanish universities to the employability of their graduates by looking at four different dimensions of the term: basic, business protocol, matching and feedback. These dimensions have been measured against initiatives that are run beyond the scope of official academic training. Based on this scale and applying the analysis of several clusters, we identify three profiles for university centers according to their commitment to the employability of their graduates. We gave a questionnaire to 230 higher education institutions in Spain. The results demonstrated that Spanish universities have a long way to go to reach sufficient commitment in the four areas proposed. Only one third of the centers analyzed met the criteria. Last, we propose some potential measures for improvement such as requiring a minimum level of a foreign language in order to complete a degree, the use of interactive learning methodologies and collaboration with employers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of school performance (primary effects) and the structure of costs and benefits that individuals of different social class face (secondary effects) on the transition from compulsory to non-compulsory education in Spain. We find that both predictors of educational paths seem to operate through an interactive effect, which contributes to reproducing educational inequalities. This interaction suggests that school performance is not interpreted in the same way by individuals from different social classes. In concrete, the resources and social capital of upper class families provide compensation effects leading to a greater probability of students from upper classes with poor grades reaching post-compulsory secondary education and higher education in comparison to lower class students with the equivalent grades. Therefore, inequality by social class of origin is greatest among students with the lowest grades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify the situations preceding the incorrect selection of survey respondents in Spain and their consequences, focusing on research in which survey respondents were selected through random routes and quotas. The use of the first six Barometer Surveys by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) in 2011 reveals a steady increase in the number of incidents. However, these do not involve any major differences with respect to the population as a whole in terms of gender, age, educational level and occupational status. The paper shows that cooperation patterns differ depending on the time of day and the day of the week when field work is performed. It also reveals that the level of accessibility varies significantly depending on the different traits of the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an approach to the aesthetic canon of Spanish pop-rock, which is understood as being the musicians, bands and works which have had the most influence on this musical genre in Spain. Using Bourdieu's sociology of art and its application to popular music studies, surveys have been analysed that were carried out by both Spanish music critics and musicians. The hypothesis posed is whether an autochthonous aesthetic canon exists, and whether this is determined by an Anglo-American influence. From lists or rankings published whether in books or in general or specialist magazines, these data were combined to obtain a meta-ranking, which was tested by using certain statistical tests. From this, some characteristics particular to the Spanish aesthetic canon have been obtained, as well as some which are shared with the English-speaking canon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking as an empirical basis some of the data from a questionnaire applied to a sample of approximately eight hundred parents from three public secondary schools, this paper discusses how various categories of parents organise «hierarchies of excellence» through the «arguments for choice» that they prioritise when choosing their children's school for entrance into secondary education (year 10 of schooling, equivalent to the year 4 of compulsory secondary education in Spain - ESO). The analysis of the data highlights that, in all segments of parents, a group can be found that attaches great importance to academic indicators; in addition, an unequal concentration of these groups was verified in the three establishments studied, which reflects a predominance of different types of public in each school. Thus, even though the importance attributed to the «arguments for choice» varies according to the educational level of the parents, in the cases studied the «hierarchies of excellence» are distinguished, above all, by the school variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper pretends to demonstrate the complementary relations between three relatively recent sociological theories, each one of which explains a different aspect of the same social object: the origin, diffusion and change of social and cultural values, aiming at demonstrating that there is not such a thing as a sociological theory that explains all, but rather diverse theories that offer partial explanations of social reality. To that effect, and on the basis of the necessary relationship between theory and research, three different theories are evaluated separately: Hawley's and Duncan's theory of the social ecosystem, Galtung's centre-periphery theory, and Inglehart's theory of values' change in modern-industrial societies, offering theoretical and empirical evidence of their complementary relations, based on Spanish and international data. Social ecosystem and centre-periphery theories show a high level of generalization (through space and time) and a high level of abstraction, though both can easily operationalize their main concepts through valid and reliable indicators. The theory of values' change, however, though showing a high level of generalization, is limited in time to the historical period after World War II, and also shows a high level of abstraction. Centre-periphery theory and values' change theory use individual and collective units of analysis, but social ecosystem theory only uses collective units, by definition. The three theories lead to the conclusion that 'security' values will gain a growing importance in present societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the predictions of the election results for the Spanish Parliament published in the main Spanish newspapers. To gauge their degree of accuracy, the distance between the predictions and the actual results was defined and later assessed by comparing it with that of the so-called 'perfect poll'. This 'perfect poll' was generated by a simulation using the proportions of votes actually obtained by each party. Other issues related to the published polls are also analysed, such as the relationship between sample size and estimation quality, and between the error made (by excess or defect) for a party and the ideological affinity between that party and the newspaper publishing the survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, the link between migration and development has been identified as a major topic of political and scientific debate. As a sign of a renewed interest in the issue, in 2009 the United Nations Development Programme published its Human Development Report (HDR) with the title «Overcoming Barriers: mobility and human development». Some of the data in the HDR are reviewed in this paper in order to question certain clichés regarding the relationships between international migration flows and development processes. Our main conclusion is that the link between the two is not one-directional, nor does it follow generalisable patterns beyond the confirmation that the countries with medium human development are the most affected by migration, but also benefit the most from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the social theory of freedom proposed by Norbert Elias, as opposed to classic philosophical views. Firstly, it analyses the basic features of the metaphysical theories of freedom which Elias rejects. Then the key points on which Norbert Elias's social theory of freedom is based are developed. Finally, two Eliasian classic empirical examples are briefly discussed: the cases of Louis XIV and Mozart. The above is intended to show that Elias has a legitimate voice in the current scientific debate about freedom, especially within Neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the employment transitions of unemployed individuals who have worked before. To do so, a longitudinal data set from the Spanish Labour Force Survey (Encuesta de Población Activa, EPA) was used. The analyses were conducted for two different economic periods: expansive (2005-2007) and recessive (2008-2010). The results indicate that Latin Americans and Eastern Europeans had a higher probability of obtaining employment in Spain during the period of economic growth. This was the case after controlling for sociodemographic variables, as well as factors related to the characteristics of the last job before becoming unemployed. This advantage, however, disappears during the recession period. Moreover, the effect of some factors that influence the likelihood of being employed again, such as human capital, change depending on the phase of the economic cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the system of actors involved in the development of residential tourism on the north east coast of Brazil. The study observes the socio-political effects of the 2001-2008 real estate boom, focused on the promotion of second homes in closed residential areas. Stakeholder Analysis (SA) is used to identify the various actors' roles and positions within a particular social space in a tourist setting which is exposed to transnational and real estate interests. The method reveals an unequal and conflict-ridden social reality. The results show that residential tourism shapes the local socio-political confi guration, strengthening some actors (urban developers, real estate companies) whilst positioning others in a situation of dependence (local communities, cities). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tests the equalization hypothesis at the vote level. A good number of studies have examined whether the Internet is levelling the playing field in electoral competition by offering fringe parties opportunities to increase their visibility. To test the influence of use of the Internet in vote choice, we analyze the behaviour of ERC voters. Using survey data, we test whether online exposure to political information affects vote choice among these voters. We find that online exposure to political information increases the probability of voting for Solidaritat Catalana relatively to voting again for ERC. The analysis provides empirical evidence to support the idea that the Internet works as a differentiated media environment in which political messages compete in more equal terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the nationalization of political parties in Spain understood as the homogeneity of parties' electoral support across constituencies in a national election. The first part of the paper describes the evolution of nationalization from 1977 to the present and shows how the Spanish party system is increasingly nationalized despite the differences across parties. The second part seeks to explain party nationalization determinants. The analysis indicates that the votes received at national level increases party nationalization. The age of the party enhances national parties' nationalization while in subnational parties this variable has a negative effect, pointing to a trade-off between the two groups. Finally, the ideological distance in the left-right axis reduces national parties' homogeneity across districts while founding elections have no effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous paper we explained the socio-economic context in which clinical trials are implemented and evaluated, and in which their results are published, whilst showing some of their methodological limitations. In this study, after showing two different models of evaluation (methodological and cognitive), we analyse the controversial evaluation of three drugs: two of them having been evaluated by clinical trial and the third one not, in spite of the willingness of the drug manufacturer to undertake this type of evaluation. As a result of this research, further findings were made with regard to the considerable influence that the socio-economic component of clinical trial evaluation has, as opposed to that of the technical, on deciding whether a new drug should or should not pass the evaluation, even though it is the technical/scientific component that is supposed to prevail. From a methodological perspective, this conclusion leads to question the methodological model of evaluation, and to think, however tentatively, of an alternative, namely, the cognitive model of evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses whether the fear of indebtedness resulting from going on to post-secondary education affects potential students' decisions to apply for, and enter into, Higher Education; whether there is any relationship between the fear of indebtedness and the socio-economic level of the families of potential students; and whether there is an association between the fear of indebtedness and student performance. This study shows that the fear of indebtedness for post-secondary studies is not a limiting factor for young people from lower-income sectors to go on to tertiary education. The study also shows that availability of loans facilitates access to Higher Education. These findings contradict the conclusions of studies by Claire Callender and Jonathan Jackson, who previously analysed the British case with the same aims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the different ways in which domestics and their employers dispute the limits of a labour and affective relationship. Different studies (Brites, 2001; Kofes, 2001; Rollins, 1985) have pointed out that this labour relationship is constituted in the ambiguity of the boundaries between these women, a relationship built on the social inequality between them. Our aim is to analyze the relationship between employers and employees, considering the different ways in which they establish the limits of their labour relationship, and focusing on what we call demarcation repertoires. The methodological techniques consisted of in-depth interviews with both employers and employees, observations and discourses gathered from situations that unfold outside the fieldwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social studies on disability have increased in number and importance in Spain and other countries over the last few years. Nevertheless, the majority of the available sources and studies do not adequately represent this heterogeneous group, which currently makes up about 9 per cent of the Spanish population. The implementation of social measures requires representative sources and studies containing relevant information. The aim of this paper is to identify the main difficulties involved in designing and developing social research methods concerning persons with disabilities, and offer proposals and recommendations in order to advance towards a more inclusive social research using the concepts of accessibility and design for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is threefold: 1) to compare the impact of the Normalisation of 2005 with the new Settlement Programme established in 2006; 2) to analyse the trajectories of applicants from both programmes after their regularisation; 3) to examine the regularisation of applicants who were unable to qualify in their first attempt via the Normalisation or, subsequently, through the Settlement Programme. Two approaches have been implemented: one cross-sectional, to analyse the volume and intensity of entry, and the other longitudinal, to monitor the trajectories of applicants from both programmes. Specific data from 2005 to 2010 from the Government Representation Office in the Province of Barcelona have been used. Whilst the results shed some optimism on both programmes, they also demonstrate the difficulty of regularisation in times of economic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to identify the vegan activist profile in Spain, with vegans being the most committed group within the animal liberation movement. Through online questionnaires, we analyzed socio-demographic characteristics, ideological and emotional aspects of the participants, their process of conversion, as well as their preferences regarding activism strategies. The findings are very similar to previous studies about animal rights activists, especially those conducted in the United States. The paper concludes with recommendations aimed at animal organizations, companies and governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to understand the behavior of Spain's main media within a specific electoral context: the 2008 General Election. To this end, we analyzed the coverage of the major Spanish newspapers (El País, El Mundo and Abc) in order to determine whether their agenda setting and framing had political motives, in addition to the merely informative intention. Spanish media had at least two options within the context of the elections: to offer their readers a neutral coverage or, on the contrary, to taint it with obvious partisanship. Our findings demonstrate the predominance of the latter option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meaning of unemployment has changed considerably in recent decades. The currently prevailing representation of unemployment stresses the central role played by the management of so-called personal willingness. Activation policies have largely embodied this transformation of the concept of unemployment, and the spread of this intervention paradigm has gradually shifted the focus of attention towards the management of subjectivity. This paper presents some results of a recent qualitative study of recent activation employment policies. Based on the experiences of different players (coordinators, guidance professionals and users) concerning this intervention model, the research analyses management strategies for dealing with the contradictions related to the production of subjects stemming from these activation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to show to what extent it is possible to speak of the existence of permanently precarious or discontinuous trajectories in Spain, beyond the well-known age effect. The available variables for the 2001-2006 period coming from the Fundació Jaume Bofill's Inequalities Panel have been exploited by means of a cluster analysis coupled with a logistic regression. The results of this analysis show that gender and age are among the most important variables when determining precarious trajectories. These results also seem to point towards the existence of a generation gap in labour trajectories, although the limited length of the available panel data does not make it possible to state that this gap can be extended to any social profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widowhood has an emotional, economic and relational impact. This paper analyzes the transformations which take place in the personal support networks of widowed persons. In our analysis we have used different regression models (Poisson) in which we examine the effects of personal, contextual and attitudinal variables on support networks. The data come from the Social Relations and Social Support module of the International Social Survey Program 2001. Our conclusions show that widowed persons have smaller support networks than those in relationships, although there are differences based on sex. The greatest loss in support occurs in the secondary family network. Geographic mobility increases the family network but decreases that of friends. Familist attitudes and lower social trust contribute to maintaining these personal networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the process of implementing «gender equality» in North-South development cooperation. The hypotheses argue that the background of these processes involves a homogenizing desire whereby the goals of the West should be the goals of the world. The theoretical discussion is based on modern feminist critical theories. The first part reviews the main theoretical reflections related to post-modern feminism, and the second section provides empirical information on the relationship between Colombian and Aragonese NGDOs. The main conclusions state that, on the one hand, post-modern feminist theories represent an advance in the understanding of current patterns of development cooperation. On the other hand, in practice, «gender equality» on the development cooperation agenda often reproduces a type of patriarchal authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When called upon to deliver judgment, citizens must believe that government is capable of affecting economic outcomes. Economic integration arguably reduces the power of governments to act independently in response to macroeconomic shocks. This paper seeks to determine whether institutional changes implemented by 12 European countries in the wake of monetary integration affected economic voting, and whether such changes were mediated by party messages. It employs statistical analyses across 12 European countries at two points in time. The results show that differences in economic voting were mediated by perceptions of EU integration; voters who believed in delegation at EU level weighed up economic issues to a lesser extent when casting their vote. In addition, such findings were to a large extent driven by partisan concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the validity of different interpretative models of voting behavior in European elections in the light of the June 2009 results. First, we focus on models linking the European vote to national political concerns (Second Order model) and the domestic electoral cycle (Mid-Term model), and then we assess the capacity of a model based on the role of party positions and campaigning (Europe matters model) to explain occurrences which are at odds with traditional interpretations. Finally, we present a composite model in order to provide a more solid explanation of the 2009 European election results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agent-based modeling is a new research method that allows the complexity, emergency and nonlinearity of many social processes to be managed in a simple way. In this paper we define agent-based modeling — and its different classes— on the basis of a classic example: the Schelling model of urban segregation, which seeks to explain how it is possible that ghettos can arise in cities where citizens have no racial prejudices. Finally, some of its possible applications are considered: developing, formalising and assessing sociological theories; deciding amongst rival theories about the same social phenomenon; integrating different theories in a common setting; explaining social dynamics through their micro-mechanisms; carrying out experiments in a virtual world; assessing social policies and their a priori results; and predicting certain social phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether the results of in-person and telephone survey interviews are equivalent to those obtained via self-administered, on-line questionnaires. Of the eleven variables analyzed, five showed significantly different levels of item non-response (the highest in the on-line survey). Analysis of item-response distributions across survey formats reveals differences in all variables, although there is more response pattern similarity between in-person and telephone interviewer-administered surveys than between either of these and the self-administered format. While respondents to both interviewer-administered survey formats state their belief in the benefit to be gained from surveys and particularly in the sincerity of survey respondents, the level of approval is always higher among those interviewed in person. The on-line respondents show greater confidence in surveys, more interest in following survey-related news items and more faith in their usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce a system of composite indicators designed to analyze the digital gender divide. This tool, called Gender & ICT Indicators System (GICTIS), is an advance in the measurement and analysis of the difference between men and women in the Information Society. Its application allows us to a) make inter-gender comparisons, determined by their degree of e-equity; b) carry out intra-gender analysis according to the degree of e-inclusion of each sex; and c) contextualize the results obtained with the corresponding thirty-one European countries. Furthermore, this transnational analytical perspective is specified in the ranking of countries that are used to establish five classification categories according to the level of ICT use, combined with the degree of existing gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes economic voting in decentralized contexts. The existence of several arenas of political competition allows for the appearance of vertical electoral contamination processes, implying that voters do not evaluate the performance of national and regional governments independently. Using the case of Spain in the period 1982-2008, it is demonstrated that this electoral contamination spreads from the national arena to the regional one, and not the other way round. However, electoral contamination tends to diminish as the process of decentralization takes place over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper seeks to confirm the hypothesis according to which political consumerism can be considered a form of political participation that cosmopolitanism is helping to develop. After analysing the theoretical implications of this hypothesis, the study presents an operationalization of cosmopolitanism which shows its greater presence among those individuals who have bought or boycotted products for ethical, political or environmental reasons. This is followed by a further verification of the association between cosmopolitanism and political consumerism, controlling for the effect of the main socio-demographic variables on the latter. The study confirms the hypothesis that political consumption can be regarded as a form of political participation related to cosmopolitanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with historical memory in Chile from a theoretical life course perspective. For this purpose, the topic is conceptualized on the basis of a collective and historical generation component concerning the memory of different age groups in the six municipalities of the metropolitan area of Concepción (Chile). The information was gathered by means of a standardized questionnaire, and the sample comprised individuals spread across five different age groups. The results show a memory of recent history centered on national events for the whole sample, incorporating supranational elements among younger cohorts. The study confirms the existence of both national and generational memories centered around various significant socio-historical changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses determinants of the aspirations and expectations among immigrant offspring on the basis of a representative sample of second generation adolescents interviewed at schools in the metropolitan area of Madrid. Seven hypotheses are formulated in relation to status attainment in general and aspirations and expectations in particular. We present breakdowns of educational and occupational aspirations and expectations by gender, parental education and school. The analysis is completed with structural equation models which offer an integrated theoretical perspective on the causal structure of ambition in the Spanish context. We examine the consequences of our conclusions for theory and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes collaboration strategies for the provision of services at local level in the municipalities of Spain, United States and Norway. It focuses on the importance of these strategies and how they are carried out in the cases mentioned, as well as the role that various factors play in such strategies. For this purpose, attention is paid to elements of the social, economic and political dynamics of the municipality, but also to the institutional design elements which shape the position that local authorities occupy in the intergovernmental system in each case. This requires an analytical approach at two different levels, which we call meso and micro respectively. The meso level concerns institutional design elements that operate in the municipality as a determining factor in the collaboration models, whilst the micro level deals with those elements located in local political society that determine the local authorities' opportunities for carrying out their strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the transformation that water policy in Spain has undergone in recent decades. The erosion of a strongly united hydraulic policy community has given way to a widespread and plural network in which modern hydrological policy is under discussion. In this network, a new discourse about sustainability (the «New Water Culture») brings new State and non-governmental actors together in an innovative form of «issue politics». We document this phenomenon by using research strategies drawn from analyses of public issues on the Internet. More precisely, we trace the «New Water Culture» network on the Web, analyse its structure and consider the political meaning of its history. On the basis of the study carried out, we claim that a hydrological policy commonwealth has emerged on the Internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically reviews the conventional wisdom on the positive relationship between turnout and the electoral results of the PSOE in general elections in Spain. We highlight the existence of three causal mechanisms that give rise to different predictions about this correlation and therefore undermine the existing parsimonious thesis. Some of our arguments are empirically tested with aggregate district-level data corresponding to the ten general elections held to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the various «sexual cultures» in different societies, their socio-sexual order and their sex/gender systems. For a better understanding they are classified into two main groups: digital systems (more rigid societies) and analogical systems (more flexible societies). If it is true that there are multiple sexual ideologies that «naturalize» different ways of understanding the masculine and the feminine, homosexuality and heterosexuality, among other things (Mead, 1972, 2006), it can be concluded that the «masculine domain», heteronormativity and the dual sex/gender model are not universal realities, but are characteristic of concrete sex/gender structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we use the method of counterfactual simulation to estimate the number of strategic votes transferred from the United Left (IU) to the Socialist Party (PSOE) in the last three Spanish general elections. The strategic voters we refer to are those who, in spite of IU being their first political preference, voted for the PSOE in order to attain representation benefits. The counterfactual simulation procedure is used to examine how the predicted individual probability of voting for a party changes when the strategic incentives at constituency level are removed. Our results lend support to the hypothesis that IU's electoral and parliamentary collapse was due in no small measure to the strategic behavior of its followers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birth intervals have rarely been considered a phenomenon worthy of study in developed countries, but rather a mere consequence of individuals' decisions about total family size and age at first birth. However, women may be using birth spacing as a strategy to make employment and motherhood more compatible. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the analysis of the influence that women's attachment to work and received help with housework can have on the length of second birth intervals. For this purpose, I have taken information from a sample of 871 Spanish women aged between 35 and 49. The data have been obtained from the Fertility and Family Survey for Spain, conducted in 1995. The results obtained from some multivariate linear regression models indicate that the strong attachment to work negatively affects the length of second birth intervals, especially among highly educated women. However, the positive effect of help with housework on the interval can counteract the influence of the abovementioned characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I aim to provide a characterization of the concept of civic virtue. Firstly, I define civic virtue as the causally efficient motivation to act in a publicly oriented manner. Secondly, I maintain that the social spread of civic virtue should be understood as the establishment of a set of publicly oriented social norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a method proposed by W. Brass, this paper uses 1940 Spanish census data on retrospective fertility (based on questions addressed to married women about numbers of children born alive and surviving children at the time of the census) to estimate the survival levels of women's descendants at different ages and, therefore, child mortality up to the age of 15. The results show that the Spanish Civil War worsened child survival in practically all Spanish provinces, especially those of Andalusia and Levante, whereas the least affected provinces were those of Catalonia and the Northern Meseta, in spite of the fact that these two regions had had opposite experiences of child mortality before the war, with low levels in the former and high ones in the latter. This would seem to indicate that, although a region's level of development should be inversely related to its population's vulnerability to unfavourable situations, the previous demographic situation does not seem to significantly influence child mortality during the war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]