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In this article I deal with current re-figurations of spaces and the corresponding challenges for quantitative research. Potential new directions for quantitative research are central, firstly in the search for adequate units of analysis with reference to the macro level - where supranational dynamics are gaining importance in the course of globalization -, secondly with regard to relational spatial concepts - which take into account the importance of translocal living realities -, and thirdly concerning the micro level - where technological advances make it possible to incorporate fine-tuned spatial characteristics to develop a spatially integrated methodology. I analyze the potentials and limits of quantitative (survey) research by means of illustrative examples from the sociology of European integration, transnational migration research, and urban studies. Witnessing booming approaches in comparative sociology (from multilevel analysis and social network analyses to geo-referenced survey research), critical aspects in data interpretation should not be neglected. To grasp the dynamics of current re-figurations of spaces, there is always a need for theory-guided research. Due to the complexity of the re-figuration of spaces, openness to quantitative and qualitative research approaches is imperative in order to further develop spatially oriented research.

In this article, I attempt to give insights into the potentials and limits of quantitative well-being approaches. Starting with the main historical achievements, I present an overview of the development stages in quality of life research. I then focus on the potential new field of societal well-being, since theoretically driven and multidimensional concepts to measure perceptions of societal developments are still widely absent in well-being research. I give examples based on cross-national surveys of how to monitor societal well-being over time and how to test for equivalent indicators. As a last step, I focus on the limits of cross-cultural comparisons as the main methodological challenge in well-being research. Content validity is especially crucial to assess well-being in a culture-specific way, and several steps must be achieved to reach the goal of comparability. I end with the systematic question of how to potentially fulfil both quality criteria in cross-cultural research, i. e. content validity and equivalence.

Cet article met en lumière le potentiel et les limites des approches quantitatives en matière de bien-être. Il offre tout d'abord une vue d'ensemble des développements de la recherche sur la qualité de vie, en partant des principales avancées historiques. Il aborde ensuite un domaine émergent, celui du bien-être sociétal. En effet, les concepts et les dimensions théoriques permettant d'apprécier les perceptions de développements sociétaux demeurent encore largement absents dans la recherche sur le bien-être. L'article fournit des exemples d'évaluation du bien-être sociétal basés sur des enquêtes transnationales réalisées au fil du temps, enquêtes qui permettent de réaliser des tests d'équivalence sur les indicateurs retenus. Ceci permet d'aborder une des principales difficultés méthodologiques que soulèvent les comparaisons dans la recherche sur le bien-être, à savoir les comparaisons transculturelles. La validité du contenu est d'une importance cruciale lorsqu'il s'agit d'évaluer le bien-être d'un point de vue culturel. Il est nécessaire de valider plusieurs étapes pour atteindre l'objectif de comparabilité. Cet article défend qu'il est nécessaire de poser systématiquement la question de la méthode à adopter pour atteindre les deux critères de qualité en matière de recherche transculturelle : la validité du contenu et l'équivalence.

Several countries in the European Union are struggling with the consequences of the global financial and economical crises at different levels. One social outcome of the crises seems to be re-nationalization, the renaissance of values, preserving order and denying egalitarianism and tolerance. These developments in Europe can also affect international tourism. Ethnic minorities in the tourism business, as well as tourists from specific countries, may find themselves in a difficult situation because of certain tendencies of (cultural) racism. This article presents a case study of ethnic prejudice in Salzburg and highlights that negative attitudes towards immigrants are prevalent in the Austrian society. Between April and June (2009) inhabitants of the autochthonous population in Salzburg (without migration background) were interviewed (n = 253). The standardized questionnaire measures how the host society assesses the living conditions of foreigners in Salzburg, gives insights about intercultural relations to certain immigrant groups and explores which individual, structural or societal-based factors influence ethnic prejudice. The study shows that the host society interprets the demographic and socioeconomic situation of immigrants quite realistically but they demonstrate a high level of xenophobia towards specific groups. Therefore it has to be concluded that even a city which is familiar with a lot of different cultures due to a high worldwide tourism demand is not free of ethnic prejudices especially towards groups with a higher social distance to the local population (e.g. Muslims). This may also have certain implications for future tourism. Ethnic prejudice may lead to intercultural misunderstandings, problematic host-guest relations and may affect immigrants working in the tourism sector. ; Diversos países da União Europeia vem sofrendo as consequências da crise financeira e económica global a diferentes níveis. Um dos efeitos, em termos sociais, da crise parece ser a renacionalização, a renascença de valores, que preserva a ordem e rejeita o igualitarismo e a tolerância. Tais desenvolvimentos na Europa podem também afetar o turismo internacional. Minorias étnicas presentes na industria do turismo, bem como turistas de determinados países, podem vir a encontrar-se em dificuldades devido a certas tendências racistas (também a nível cultural). Este artigo apresenta um estudo de caso sobre preconceito étnico em Salzburgo e ressalta que atitudes negativas para com imigrantes são predominantes na sociedade austríaca. Entre abril e junho (2009), foram entrevistados habitantes (n = 253) da comunidade autóctone em Salzburgo (sem histórico de imigração). O objetivo do questionário padronizado e aferir como a sociedade anfitriã avalia as condições de vida de estrangeiros em Salzburgo, proporcionar uma visão das relações interculturais de certos grupos de imigrantes, bem como investigar quais os fatores individuais, estruturais ou sociais que influenciam o preconceito étnico. O estudo mostra como a sociedade anfitriã interpreta a situação demográfica e socioeconómica dos imigrantes de forma bastante realista, demonstrando, porem, alto nível de xenofobia para com grupos específicos. E preciso concluir, portanto, que mesmo uma cidade familiarizada com inúmeras culturas distintas, como consequência da forte procura do turismo mundial, não esta imune ao preconceito étnico, especialmente dirigido a grupos de maior distancia social da população local (por exemplo, muçulmanos). Isto pode levar a certas implicações para o turismo no futuro. O preconceito étnico pode levar a mal-entendidos entre culturas, relações hospede-anfitrião problemáticas, e afetar imigrantes empregados no setor turístico.

During the last years a vague sense of discomfort with current societal developments is spreading all over Europe and is particularly affecting lower social classes of society. It seems necessary to theoretically derive new concepts of quality of society and to take these crises perceptions of EU-citizens more adequately into account. In this article a new multidimensional concept of societal wellbeing is proposed to understand and evaluate new cleavages in societal embeddedness, social recognition and social belonging. It is hypothesized that those restrictions concerning quality of life are also mainly responsible for the rise in ethnocentrism and radicalization in many European societies. A macro-micro-macro explanation of causes, characteristics and consequences of societal malaise is developed as a theoretical framework and also addressed empirically. As a first step, a cluster analysis of indicators of societal developments is used to justify the conceptualization of a highly diverse Europe. The empirical approach on the micro-level is based on two survey waves of the European Social Survey (2006 and 2012). After testing the cross-national equivalence of the new concept of societal wellbeing, which is based on 14 indicators, the evolution of certain crises feelings in society is documented for several European regions in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Finally, separate multiple OLS-regressions within those regions were conducted to derive crucial factors which are responsible to explain ethnocentrism. It is notable that feelings of societal malaise exert a high influence on perceptions of an ethnic threat – especially in Western Europe. These value polarizations between social groups have to be considered as a future threat of social cohesion.

During the last years a vague sense of discomfort with current societal developments is spreading all over Europe and is particularly affecting lower social classes of society. It seems necessary to theoretically derive new concepts of quality of society and to take these crises perceptions of EU-citizens more adequately into account. In this article a new multidimensional concept of societal wellbeing is proposed to understand and evaluate new cleavages in societal embeddedness, social recognition and social belonging. It is hypothesized that those restrictions concerning quality of life are also mainly responsible for the rise in ethnocentrism and radicalization in many European societies. A macro-micro-macro explanation of causes, characteristics and consequences of societal malaise is developed as a theoretical framework and also addressed empirically. As a first step, a cluster analysis of indicators of societal developments is used to justify the conceptualization of a highly diverse Europe. The empirical approach on the micro-level is based on two survey waves of the European Social Survey (2006 and 2012). After testing the cross-national equivalence of the new concept of societal wellbeing, which is based on 14 indicators, the evolution of certain crises feelings in society is documented for several European regions in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Finally, separate multiple OLS-regressions within those regions were conducted to derive crucial factors which are responsible to explain ethnocentrism. It is notable that feelings of societal malaise exert a high influence on perceptions of an ethnic threat - especially in Western Europe. These value polarizations between social groups have to be considered as a future threat of social cohesion.

L'union européenne fait face à des défis économiques et les scénarios futuristes pessimistes ont la capacité d'influencer progressivement le fonctionnement de la société. Les signes des processus de désintégration et la perception des crises sociales peuvent être expliqués par les conditions actuelles de la société, à savoir les transformations rapides (dans le contexte de la politique européenne d'intégration), l'augmentation des inégalités au sein et entre les États membres de l'Union Européenne, ainsi que la forte insécurité affectant la cohésion sociale. L'objectif principal de cet article est d'élaborer un concept permettant d'analyser et de mesurer les sentiments subjectifs de crise dans les études transnationales s'appuyant sur des données d'enquêtes (base de données de l'Enquête sociale européenne). La partie empirique de ce travail fournit une première approche d'un protocole multidimensionnel pour les évaluations subjectives sur le fonctionnement de la société. On y analyse si les construits sociaux des facteurs du bien-être social sont une mesure fiable (en prenant en compte également plusieurs sous-facteurs), s'ils peuvent être considérés comme des équivalents transculturels à travers l'Europe, comment l'étendue de la perception de la crise varie entre les États européens et à travers le temps et si les restrictions des conditions objectives de vie et de bien-être social sont capables d'expliquer l'ethnocentrisme.

Zunächst werden Ursachen für postmoderne Krisenphänomene auf makrosoziologischer Ebene bestimmt, wobei vor allem Umbrüche, Ungleichheiten und Unsicherheiten genannt werden. Die resultierenden Ordnungsbrüche bewirken bei den europäischen Bürgern Desintegrationswahrnehmungen, die einen maßgeblichen Einfluss auf fremdenfeindliche Vorurteile ausüben. Nationale Wohlfahrtssysteme und Institutionen können als Schnittstellen zwischen der Makroebene und der Mikroebene betrachtet werden und spielen eine wichtige Rolle im Umgang mit Einwanderern in der jeweiligen Gesellschaft. Zudem können rechtspopulistische Lösungsansätze zur Bekämpfung von Krisen ebenfalls als Antriebskräfte von fremdenfeindlichen Haltungen wirken. Der Verfasser fasst diese Faktoren in einem Erklärungsmodell zusammen, das Einflussfaktoren auf Makro- und Mikroebene verknüpft. Dieses Modell wird anhand der Bevölkerungsumfragen des European Social Survey 2006 empirisch überprüft. Neben einer allgemeinen Übersicht über die wichtigsten Einflussfaktoren auf rassistische Tendenzen in europäischen Ländern erfolgt eine differenzierte Analyse von vier Staaten, in denen der politisch-mediale Diskurs über Einwanderung einen hohen Stellenwert einnimmt (Österreich, Deutschland, Niederlande, Dänemark). Auf Basis der länderspezifischen Ergebnisse wird gefragt, in wie fern Wahrnehmungen gesellschaftlicher Entwicklungsbedingungen in den vier Staaten die unterschiedlichen Einstellungen zu Einwanderern erklären können. (ICE2)