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"Helmuth Plessners Begriff der 'exzentrischen Positionalität' ist wie kaum ein anderer geeignet, die Relevanz des gebauten und umbauten Raumes für die menschliche Sozialkonstitution in den Blick zu nehmen. Menschen sind körpergebundene Lebewesen, 'positional', grenzrealisierend wie Pflanzen und Tiere, aber - 'exzentrisch' situiert - sind sie miteinander gezwungen, ihre 'Grenzen' künstlich zu setzen und das darin errungene Gleichgewicht zu stabilisieren, zu symbolisieren. So wie sie sich als lebendige Körper in der 'Kleidung' voreinander disziplinieren und zugleich zur Erscheinung bringen, so im Kontroll- und Ausdruckscharakter ihrer 'schweren', 'trägen' Gebäude. Als exzentrisch positionierte Lebewesen können sie nahezu ubiquitär siedeln und müssen sich doch zugleich an einer je spezifischen Stelle niederlassen, verorten, bauen, bleiben (wie vorübergehend auch immer). Sie wohnen und gebrauchen diesen je markierten Raum, und zugleich kommunizieren sie im und durch den bebauten, damit beharrlichen Raum: schließen sich ab und andere ein (durch Fortifikation etc.) und räumen sich einander (auf öffentlichen Plätzen etc.) Raum zur Darstellung und Repräsentation ein, verhüllen und verschonen sich hinter Fassaden. Die leibphänomenologischen (Hermann Schmitz) bzw. leibästhesiologischen (Plessner) Befunde der philosophischen Anthropologie lassen beobachtbar werden, wie Menschen aus ihren positionalen Raumerfahrungen dieses 'schwere' Kommunikationsmedium der Architektur codieren (Innen/ Außen, Engung/ Weitung etc.). So gesehen erläutert Philosophische Anthropologie nicht nur die Voraussetzungen der Soziologie des Raumes (Simmel) und der Soziologie der Stadt (Bahrdt). Sie rückt Architektursoziologie gleichsam ins Zentrum der soziologischen Theoriebildung. Systematisch beobachtbar wird die Ko-Evolution von 'leichten', geflügelten Kommunikationsmedien und 'schweren', massiven Kommunikationsmedien. Schrift als Paradigma aller geflügelten Medien löst sich ab von lokaler Kommunikation unter Anwesenden, aber sie kann Bauten als dauerhaft präsente Kommunikationsmedien vor Ort nicht auflösen." (Autorenreferat)

Der Autor zeigt in seinem Vortrag, dass die Dichotomie von Natur/Geschichte auch im Hinblick auf die Definition von sozialen Gemeinschaften von Bedeutung ist. Ein analoger Gegensatz zwischen Natur und Geschichte kann zum Beispiel aus der politischen Mythologie serbischer Kulturträger abgeleitet werden. In diesen symbolischen Beschreibungen erscheint der Naturzustand als derjenige, in welchem die Bewohner ihre authentischen, von Gott gegebenen Lebensformen bewahrt haben. Im Gegensatz dazu stehen die urbanen, multi-ethnischen Ballungszentren. Folglich ließen sich die Wurzeln der nationalen Identität nicht im politisch-kulturellen Zentrum der Hauptstadt, sondern in der ländlichen Peripherie auffinden. Der Autor konzentriert sich bei seinen Ausführungen auf eine besondere, von Ernst Cassirer ausführlich untersuchte Welterschließungsfunktion: den Mythos. Denn diese Wahrnehmungsform wird häufig mit einem engen Verhältnis zum natürlichen Ursprung der sozialen Vorstellungswelten in Verbindung gebracht. Der Autor wendet Cassirers Beobachtungen über die Wirkungsweisen und politischen Mobilisierungsfunktionen des mythischen Bewusstseins exemplarisch auf das Verhältnis von Mythos und Krieg der Serben seit Ende der 1980er Jahre an, um einige soziokulturellen Dynamiken, die mit einer mythologischen Wahrnehmung in Verbindung stehen, zu verdeutlichen. (ICI2)

Identity legitimacy is regarded as a key issue to understand the current post-communist world and to substantiate the identity recognition policy, that is a legitimate (for society) way of differentiation control. There are presented two ideal models of identity production: 1) based on essentialistic imperatives, and 2) close to constructivism in its various versions, like post-classical one. There are an a lyzed significant practices and figurative representations applied to identities.

The author examines the regional factor's influence on integrative and activating functions of political culture of the population of Ukraine. As a factor of influence on the above-mentioned functions, the region is treated as a territorial organization of socio-political and socio-cultural aspects of a community's activity. The congruence of common socio-cultural values, as well as the level of political solidarity is researched on the basis of historical identity, spatial-territorial self-identification, a desirable line of the regional development related to the opposition "nationally integrated — regionally autonomous", as well as the degree of authoritarianism in a territorial community. Empirical data allow concluding about political culture of all regions of Ukraine that can be defined as tending to the integrative-passive type with slight differences.

"In light of the increasing importance of social innovation, this paper explores the question of what (new) roles social sciences can play in analyzing and shaping social innovation. The paper starts with an overview of the current situation and the perspectives of socio-scientific innovation research that have greatly contributed to the development and spread of an enlightened socio-scientific understanding of innovation. Against the backdrop of clear paradoxes and confusion in prevailing politics of innovation, the contours of a new innovation paradigm are becoming visible and causing social innovation to grow in importance. Consistently, the social sciences will be challenged to redefine their functions with regard to innovation. In the past, innovation research in the context of social sciences has contributed heavily to explain the social dimensions, the complexity and paradoxa of innovation processes. Henceforth, much will depend on realigning the range of competencies of social science and social scientists by contributing actively to the development and integration of innovations as well as by developing social innovation." (author's abstract)

Outlines a position in the sociology of science & technology that moves beyond postmodern concerns for relativism to link relativist & nonrelativist conceptions of knowledge to their respective roles. It is shown that there has been a traditional divide between realist & relativist conceptions of science that has recently been bridged by a common focus on the cultural significance of science & technology. Approaches to the sociology of science & technology that adopt this culturalist perspective are favored because they enlist scientific & technological change as vehicles for cultural criticism & as bases for agendas of cultural renewal. However, scientific advances are felt economically as much as culturally, & the Weberian realist tradition of viewing science as an extension of instrumental rationality has its place. This realist perspective is also applied to the sociology of knowledge itself, in the sense that social scientific knowledge has accumulated over time & thus, has economic & instrumental effects that are independent of any particular cultural component of its production. 46 References. D. M. Smith

The need for a new approach to social science research on environmental problems is examined. In the comtemporary era of proliferating cultural tensions, environmental policymakers must possess culturally contextualized information to make policy decisions. Unfortunately, the domination of positivism & reductionism in government-funded social science research & policy analysis is ill-suited for generations of realistic & sensitive social knowledge, & can exacerbate cultural tensions &, ultimately, environmental conflicts. Examples of the kinds of problems that can occur when governments rely solely on social science research that pays inadequate attention to the cultural dimensions of environmental conflicts are provided: (1) the capital costs of nuclear power; (2) the social impacts of biotechnology; & (3) the public understanding of sustainability. Social science must reexamine not only theoretical & methodological issues, but also the institutionalization of its research. 50 References. D. Generoli

Introduces a collection of essays devoted to shedding light on those facets of social & political institutions that influence the development of social capital. Focusing on the attitudinal components of the social capital complex, it is argued that a complete understanding of the concept of social capital requires a better understanding of society- & institutional-centered approaches. An overview of social capital touches on its benefits, consequences, & conditions that facilitate its growth or destruction. Three reasons why this volume is addressing the factors behind social capital's generation or destruction are offered: (1) It allows a confrontation with one of the major shortcomings in current social capital research. (2) Developing a second causal mechanism for social capital generation will provide an answer to one of the main critiques against current social capital concepts. (3) A full examination of the origins & nature of social capital will allow conclusions to be drawn on its rise & decline. The collection's themes are identified & the contributions briefly summarized. 34 References. J. Zendejas

The interest in developing effective multicultural education practices derives from the increasing heterogeneity of most societies... The growing worldwide relevance of cultural awareness in general and multicultural competence in particular (did not) imply a comitant growth in the appreciation for the disciplinary contributions of cultural anthropology... In fact, anthropology has benefited only mariginally from the "cultural turn" taken by the humanities and social sciences since the mid-1970s. The article characterizes the American case underlining that the contributions of scientists have been disregarded or downright misused. Than it reviews the results of the COER survey (Commission of Ethnic Relation) which was organized in preparation for the 14th ICAES (International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences) world congress which was held in 1998 in Virginia (USA). Finally there are given some basic recommendations in developing multicultural education. (DIPF/Orig./St.)

"Decentralised policy formation and implementation is one of the salient features of China's family planning programme that is the most important driving force of China's fertility transition. This paper reviews the differentials in local policy and programmes, and examines their effects on patterns of fertility transition across China. Major consequences of the differential fertility transition, such as varied processes of population ageing and labour force supply etc. at provincial level, are then discussed. The author argues that the success of government population policy to a large extent is determined by socio-economic and cultural factors. On the other hand, regional demographic patterns have profound impact on China's regional and rural-urban differences in terms of socio-economic development. Large scale migration is one of such examples." (author's abstract)

This essay is a modern narrative history that takes its content from the
fictional characters of the English poet William Shakespeare. The aim of
this story-based analysis is to reconsider configurations, general trends,
and collective aspirations in the international and transatlantic relations
between two nations of Western culture, Germany as Germania and
the United States as Sam. On the basis of seven picturesque characters
and episodes selected from his dramas and poems, each representing
an image of love and hate in these relations, an interpretation in comparison
with the cultural historical and socio-cultural developments in
German-American relations is presented: (1) The Birth of Macduff, (2)
The Passionate Pilgrim, (3) The Two Noble Kinsmen, (4) Shylock and
Aaron the Moor, (5) Macbeths Dream of Power, (6) The Phoenix and
the Turtle, and (7) Hamlet's Reflections and the self-assurance of Fortinbras.
This interpretative, comparative analysis involves three different
levels of interpretation for each image: On the basis of Shakespeare's
texts a description and paraphrase of some of the important facts in the
plot and the main characters are presented. Thereafter, a hypothesis is
summarized regarding what we have seen as the main point in the story
(at the level of the meaning of the image). Finally, these meanings, the
ways of Shakespeare's reception, and language games ('Sprachspiele';
in the Wittgenstein sense) are transferred to historical and socio-cultural
substantiation.

Introduces a section (see abstracts of related chapters) of an edited Vol on the role of cultural framing as a variable in social movement explanation by tracing the development of cultural theory in the social sciences, from the Chicago school, through Geertzian cultural analysis, the analysis of rhetoric & dramaturgy, cognitive processes & framing, & repertoires & tool kits. Social movement theory on the role of cultural framing is discussed in terms of (1) the cultural construction of repertoires of contention & frames; (2) the contribution of cultural contradictions & historical events to the framing process; (3) framing as a strategic activity; (4) competitive processes that represent the context of framing strategies; (5) the role of the mass media in framing strategies; & (6) the intersection of political opportunities & mobilization with framing to shape outcomes of framing competitions. D. M. Smith