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Taking advantage of historical census records that include full first and last names, we apply a new approach to measuring the effect of cultural assimilation on economic success for the children of the last great wave of immigrants to the United States. We created a quantitative index of ethnic distinctiveness of first names and show the consequences of ethnic-sounding names for the occupational achievement of the adult children of European immigrants. We find a consistent tendency for the children of Irish, Italian, German, and Polish immigrants with more “American”-sounding names to have higher occupational achievement. About one-third of this effect appears to be due to social class differences in name-giving, and the remaining two-thirds to signaling effects of the names themselves. An exception is found for Russian, predominantly Jewish, immigrants, where we find a positive effect of ethnic naming on occupational achievement. The divergent effects of our new measure of cultural assimilation, sometimes hurting and sometimes helping, lend historical empirical support to more recent theories of the advantages of different paths to assimilation. The effects of ethnic first names are also found for a restricted analysis of recognizably ethnic last names, suggesting that immigrants’ success depended on being perceived as making an effort to assimilate rather than hiding their origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration has always played a requisite role in the history of mankind. At present the intensity and frequency of cross-border mobility are much higher than in previous decades. In addition, many citizens are children of foreigners and belong to the so called second generation of immigrants, these people belonging to two different cultures. The second generation of immigrants is raised and educated in accordance with the value system of their parents' country of origin. Outside the home, they familiarize themselves with the national society's value system, while the kind of neighbourhood in which they live may be more or less encouraging. Cultural assimilation occurs when immigrants voluntarily adopt their new country's language and cultural practices to integrate into society and improve their chances of economic and social gain. Sociologists suggest that differences in cultural integration efforts matter less to the formation of acculturation preferences of the second generation. Somewhat surprisingly, the position of this growing segment of European societies is still underexplored, reasons for policy-makers concern. In this paper we are trying to reflect both the attitude of immigrants and that of European host countries towards integration and assimilation of new habits and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial share of Europe's population consists of immigrants and the children of immigrants. Using European Social Survey data, this study examines whether the gender-egalitarian values of immigrants are shaped by the gender relations in their origin country and whether they adapt their values to the standards of their residence country. The analyses show that immigrants originating from countries with very inegalitarian gender relations support gender equality less than members of mainstream society. However, immigrants adapt their gender ideology to the standards of their residence country, and the origin context loses force over time. Both acculturation within the first generation and acculturation across the generations play a role; but women tend to “assimilate” within the first generation and more thoroughly than men. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on a conference on intersectionality, held in Bangor, Wales, from June 28-29, 2012. Topics of discussion included the interplay of gender, race, and ethnicity in the socioeconomic and cultural experiences of migrants in Europe, multiculturalism, and the acculturation and assimilation of immigrants.

The purpose of the article is to examine whether an acculturation of trust takes place among non-western immigrants upon migrating to Western Europe and whether inclusionary integration policies have an effect on this process. Building on the second and third wave of the European Social Survey (ESS) we show that an acculturation of trust does take place, but that integration policy does not affect this process. In spite of some variation across destination countries, we also find that second generation immigrants tend to adapt more to the level of trust of natives in the destination country than first generation immigrants do. This indicates that the acculturation of trust is strengthened with the second generation in the country. The results hold up when controlling for confounding variables including the trust in the country of origin of immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the concept of diversity, focusing on its use in the context of social and cultural changes. The relationship between assimilation, multiculturalism, and diversity is discussed, in terms of historical developments in European immigration patterns and government policies. The related topic of transnationalism is also addressed. Various uses of the term 'diversity' are critiqued, and the implications of diversity in terms of society, organizations, and individuals are discussed. Examples involving European labor markets are cited.

This article is meant to underline a peculiar pro-European perspective of a character little known in the contemporary scientific world. Ernesto de Martino, recognized nowadays as the father of Italian modern anthropology, has dreamt a dream, which was to become true but after his departure from the living. He has dreamt a dream of a culturally and geographically united Europe, in which the Cultural South would be appreciated for its intrinsic folk gems. He pledged allegiance to the vision of that Europe which he recognized as his homeland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present essay proposes to treat the subject of the Americanization of Europe in the context of a logical redefinition of the socio-cultural contributions of the United States presented in light of the current globalized dimension. The even more extensive use of strategic marketing in the field of cultural production has determined ample scenarios for its production and diffusion. For this reason, as a beginning point, the essay seeks to interpret the market production mechanism of the mass culture industry. In the latter half of the century, (beginning with the age of Abstract Expressionism) and reaching the height of American artistic styles of the 1960's, with pop-art, the United States was able to exercise upon Europe a hegemony even in artistic fields. This work proposes to analyze the modalities of the American penetration of the artistic market, and the effects on the cultural consumption level, which has involved ever increasing sectors of the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses various matters on migration. The Political Participation of Ethnic Minorities in Europe workshop was organized by the European Consortium for Political Research and was held at the Leyden University, The Netherlands, on April 2 to 8, 1993. This workshop explores the factors which constrain or facilitate the participation of ethnic minorities in the political process and the extent to which such participation has furthered or diluted the pursuit of ethnically-based interests. Meanwhile, the Annual Meeting of the American Catholic Historical Association: Philadelphia was held April 16 to 17, 1993. It included the following papers: The American Catholic Response to Recent Immigration, by M. L. Sullivan; Ybor City Latins and the Church, by M. J. McNally; and Puerto Ricans and the Archdiocesan of Chicago, 1963-1970, by T. Kelliher. In other matters, The Forum for Researchers on Islam in Europe was established to encourage the development of information and interdisciplinary research on Islam and Muslim populations in Europe. It foresees a publication of a newsletter, directory of members, publication of an international bibliography in 1993, a symposium in 1994, and an international conference in 1995.

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The author comments on a study discussed within the issue about the acculturation and marginalization of immigrant youth in northwestern Europe. The author reflects on how the issue can be associated to the social position and the educational functioning of children in Israel. The author contends that acculturation must follow four different ways. In conclusion, the author emphasizes the significance of combining the basic patterns of the old cultures with the tenets of the new culture.