Search results

In an introduction to this edited volume (see related abstracts in IRPS No. 87), the field of cultural studies & its relation to science & technology are discussed. It is suggested that the traditional belief in the primacy of cause/effect relationships fails to recognize the complexity & interdependence of variables in the modern world. Culture, science, & technology are not distinct entities, but overlapping fields, which transform & are transformed by each other. Although science & technology have permeated modern society, they do not independently determine the outcomes of social situations & evolution. It is argued that traditional deterministic social sciences must be replaced by a theory of complexity that erodes the boundaries between distinct forms of knowledge & perspectives, & seeks to consider cause in terms of multiple & merging influences. Further, region-oriented communities are becoming less important as technology allows easy communication with distant others, & thereby facilitates the bypass of local ties. It is concluded that the field of cultural studies is best equipped to deal with the rapidly changing circumstances of the modern world due to its appropriation of knowledge from diverse perspectives, & its lack of fundamental & fixed principles. T. Sevier

Die Autorin untersucht die Bedeutung von Kultur, Sprache und sozioökonomischen Faktoren im Frage-Antwort-Prozess bei allgemeinen Gesundheitssurveys. Sie stellt hierzu zwei Forschungsprojekte mit kognitiven Interviews vor, die zum einen in der ländlichen Region des Mississippi im Januar 2002 und zum anderen in Hyattsville und Northwest Ohio im Sommer 2003 durchgeführt worden sind. Sie verdeutlicht anhand von Beispielen, dass psychologische Modelle des Frage-Antwort-Prozesses nicht vollständig umfassend sind, dass der soziale Kontext den Prozess beeinflusst, in welchem der Teilnehmer auf eine bestimmte Frage antwortet und dass dies Auswirkungen auf die Qualität und die Nutzbarkeit der Erhebungsdaten hat. Die Autorin möchte mit ihren Ausführungen insbesondere eine größere Aufmerksamkeit auf den Zusammenhang zwischen Antwortfehler und der sozialen Lage des Befragten lenken. (ICI)

Die Verfasserin verbindet kritische Forderungen nach besseren politischen und wirtschaftlichen Arbeitsbedingungen mit der Diskussion um Bürgertum und Effektivität. Ihrer Meinung nach legt der politische Diskurs der EU viel Gesicht auf Partizipation, lebenslanges Lernen und soziale Kohäsion. Diese recht attraktiven Zielsetzungen werden jedoch durch die gegenwärtigen Arbeitsmarktbedingungen konterkariert und durch eine Industriepolitik, die die Arbeiter unterdrückt und ihre volle Beteiligung als Bürger in zunehmend demokratischen Gesellschaften verhindert. Dabei können lebenslanges Lernen und Bildungsarbeit innovative Antworten auf die gegenwärtige Situation hervorbringen. Revitalisierte politische Bildung und eine EU-Politik für erweiterte Bildung und Ausbildung können eine Vision und praktische Wege zur effektiven Demokratisierung von Unternehmen und Gesellschaft eröffnen. (ICE).

The positive impact of socio-cultural diversity on innovation and economic prosperity has been widely discussed. Yet, there is a lack of a clear quantitative indicator of socio-cultural diversity. Most empirical works are limited to small case studies that follow various methods. This gap in the literature calls for a comprehensive measure whereby researchers could assess and compare diversity across cities and regions at the national level. Building on a unique database of registered associations (in German: eingetragene Vereine), this study provides a hierarchical categorization of associations based on their field of activities. Applying the Shannon entropy index, the socio-cultural diversity of German regions is measured. The findings indicate a disparity between East and West Germany, reflecting the path-dependent nature of historical
events. This article sets an agenda for future research.

The positive impact of socio-cultural diversity on innovation and economic prosperity has been widely discussed. Yet, there is a lack of a clear quantitative indicator of sociocultural diversity. Most empirical works are limited to small case studies that follow various methods. This gap in the literature calls for a comprehensive measure whereby researchers could assess and compare diversity across cities and regions at the national level. Building on a unique database of registered associations (in German: eingetragene Vereine), this study provides a hierarchical categorization of associations based on their field of activities. Applying the Shannon entropy index, the sociocultural diversity of German regions is measured. The findings indicate a disparity between East and West Germany, reflecting the path-dependent nature of historical events. This article sets an agenda for future research.

This paper provides a comparative empirical analysis of social values in Croatia, the European Union (EU), the countries joining in the first round, and a group of European countries outside the EU. Following up on the analysis of the data obtained in international research into European
values carried out at the end of the 90's on national samples of most European countries, the authors have endeavoured to determine the differences in the spread of post-material values and the scope of social capital. The objective is to define where, in terms of social values, Croatia is currently located, and thus to sketch out its readiness or lack of readiness for joining the EU. In the second part, the paper offers a comparative analysis of factors that affect the level of public confidence in the EU.

"The objective of the current article is one particular aspect of socioeconomic utilization of cultural heritage resources for developing cultural tourism - namely - the sustainability aspect of this utilization. The aim of the research is to identify what are the main hindrances and opportunities in front of strategic planning so as to provide and guarantee for the sustainability of cultural resources utilization. To achieve this aim, the article will develop two theses and will analyze the link between them. The theses relate respectively to: 1) the hindrance - the lack of commonly agreed upon clarification of sustainability management of cultural resources definitions themselves within the cultural field and within the culture related institutions and organizations so as to nerve the needs of development planning institutions; 2) the opportunities of using the past best practices experienced by cultural management institutions and organizations for training and dissemination of skills and knowledge supporting advocacy and raising the awareness about the finally agreed upon definitions." (author's abstract)

Thema des Beitrags ist ein spezieller Aspekt der sozioökonomischen Nutzung von Ressourcen des kulturellen Erbes für die Entwicklung eines kulturellen Tourismus unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Nachhaltigkeitsaspekts. Ziel der Untersuchung ist die Identifizierung der hauptsächlichen Hindernisse und Möglichkeiten einer strategischen Planung um die Nachhaltigkeit der Nutzung kultureller Ressourcen sicherzustellen und zu garantieren. Zur Erreichung dieser Zielsetzung entwickelt der Beitrag zwei Thesen und analysiert deren gegenseitige Beziehung. Die Thesen beziehen sich auf: 1) Hindernisse: das Fehlen einer allgemeinen Übereinkunft über die begriffliche Abklärung des Nachhaltigkeitsmanagements kultureller Ressourcen im Bereich Kultur und innerhalb kultureller Institutionen und Organisationen als Voraussetzung für eine bedürfnisorientierte Entwicklungsplanung; 2) die Orientierung an positiven Beispielen im Kulturmanagements, der Aus- und Fortbildung und der Wissensvermittlung, die dabei helfen, ein Bewusstsein für die Wichtigkeit dafür zu entwickeln, letztendlich zu Begriffsdefinitionen zu kommen, die allgemeine Zustimmung finden. Hierzu wird eine Fallstudie zur Internationalen Studienzentrale für die Erhaltung und Restaurierung von Kulturgut (ICCROM) vorgestellt. Forschungsmethode: deskriptive Studie; Fallstudie; empirisch. (IAB).;;;"The objective of the current article is one particular aspect of socioeconomic utilization of cultural heritage resources for developing cultural tourism - namely - the sustainability aspect of this utilization. The aim of the research is to identify what are the main hindrances and opportunities in front of strategic planning so as to provide and guarantee for the sustainability of cultural resources utilization. To achieve this aim, the article will develop two theses and will analyze the link between them. The theses relate respectively to: 1) the hindrance - the lack of commonly agreed upon clarification of sustainability management of cultural resources definitions themselves within the cultural field and within the culture related institutions and organizations so as to nerve the needs of development planning institutions; 2) the opportunities of using the past best practices experienced by cultural management institutions and organizations for training and dissemination of skills and knowledge supporting advocacy and raising the awareness about the finally agreed upon definitions." Forschungsmethode: deskriptive Studie; Fallstudie; empirisch. (author's abstract, IAB-Doku).

"The objective of the current article is one particular aspect of socioeconomic utilization of cultural heritage resources for developing cultural tourism - namely - the sustainability aspect of this utilization. The aim of the research is to identify what are the main hindrances and opportunities in front of strategic planning so as to provide and guarantee for the sustainability of cultural resources utilization. To achieve this aim, the article will develop two theses and will analyze the link between them. The theses relate respectively to: 1) the hindrance - the lack of commonly agreed upon clarification of sustainability management of cultural resources definitions themselves within the cultural field and within the culture related institutions and organizations so as to nerve the needs of development planning institutions; 2) the opportunities of using the past best practices experienced by cultural management institutions and organizations for training and dissemination of skills and knowledge supporting advocacy and raising the awareness about the finally agreed upon definitions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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.

"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)