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Societies
Volume 13
Issue 12
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Societies, Volume 13, Issue 12 (December 2023) – 18 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Globally, youth satisfaction with democracy is declining. This is not only the case in absolute terms but also relative to how older generations felt at the same stage. One can point to concrete factors to explain such declines, which range from the growth of youth unemployment to the persistence of corruption and poverty in new democracies. This populist rule has a highly negative effect on democratic political identities. Our research explores the significance of youth identification with democracy and their participation approaches as an alternative to the decline in democratic quality in Barcelona, Spain. Using quantitative data collection and analysis, in this study, we present the first results of our research and suggest a path for further investigation. View this paper
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31 pages, 3632 KiB  
Article
Fintech Adoption Factors: A Study on an Educated Romanian Population
by Lucian Belascu, Corina Anca Negut, Zeno Dinca, Cosmin Alin Botoroga and Dan Gabriel Dumitrescu
Societies 2023, 13(12), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120262 - 18 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2091
Abstract
Even though the literature implies that customers and banking organizations can profit from digital banking in various ways, client adoption of this service is still low, especially in emerging and developing nations. Consumers’ openness to digital services limits their willingness to adopt digital [...] Read more.
Even though the literature implies that customers and banking organizations can profit from digital banking in various ways, client adoption of this service is still low, especially in emerging and developing nations. Consumers’ openness to digital services limits their willingness to adopt digital banking, especially mobile banking services. We used a quantitative research method based on a questionnaire sent during August–December 2022 to Romanian individuals and received 118 answers, which we analyzed using the logistic regression model; throughout, we determined the extent of mobile banking use, payments, and banking products needed within the population with tertiary education, as well as new developments that the shift to digitalization brings to users, with new features for existing products, cryptocurrency accounts, and fintech companies now being complementary to traditional banks. Our study presents current customer perceptions of implementing bank digitalization through mobile applications in a developing nation like Romania; here, advantages are counterbalanced by limitations and there are, undoubtedly, difficulties to be overcome in the quest for a more effective e-business framework. We determined the factors that are relevant in making people use fintech accounts using logit analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Interactions and the Technology Development: Perspectives on E-Societies)
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17 pages, 292 KiB  
Article
Digital Embodiment as a Tool for Constructing the Self in Politics
by Vincenzo Auriemma, Daniele Battista and Serena Quarta
Societies 2023, 13(12), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120261 - 17 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1557
Abstract
This article offers an exploration of the theoretical and methodological implications related to the concept of digital embodiment in the field of contemporary communication. It seeks to analyze a crucial intersection between the virtual and material dimensions of human experience, enabling a deeper [...] Read more.
This article offers an exploration of the theoretical and methodological implications related to the concept of digital embodiment in the field of contemporary communication. It seeks to analyze a crucial intersection between the virtual and material dimensions of human experience, enabling a deeper understanding of how bodies are shaped, visualized, and experienced in the digital age. Specifically, through this conceptual lens, we examine how human bodies are engaged in continuous interaction with digital technologies, giving rise to new forms of presence and identity. Therefore, we will seek to analyze how the personalization of the body within political communication has been profoundly affected by the virtualization of human experience. Next, we will introduce a new approach, useful for studying this fusion, that can emphasize the importance of analyzing this issue using ethnography, which is useful for fully understanding the complex dynamics surrounding the personalized digital body. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Interactions and the Technology Development: Perspectives on E-Societies)
11 pages, 248 KiB  
Article
Young People Developing Their Identity Perception and Values: How Can School Support Such a Process by Bringing in Controversial Issues?
by Juliana Crespo Lopes and Bodil Liljefors Persson
Societies 2023, 13(12), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120260 - 15 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1246
Abstract
This article draws upon group conversations with young people (11–19 years old) from Europe, focusing on the Nordic countries. The participants’ identity perception showed more aspects as the deliberative, non-structured conversations advanced. From initially showing limited aspects of identity as being related to [...] Read more.
This article draws upon group conversations with young people (11–19 years old) from Europe, focusing on the Nordic countries. The participants’ identity perception showed more aspects as the deliberative, non-structured conversations advanced. From initially showing limited aspects of identity as being related to geographical and temporal aspects, a broader comprehension of identities as constructed, multiple, and at times subject to negotiation and change came to the fore during the discussions. Examples given showed an awareness that people, such as older relatives, develop diverse ways of thinking and acting due to historical and cultural contexts. Understanding that there is an intersection between psychosocial, post-structural, and sociocultural explanations for how identity formation progresses, we propose pedagogical actions working with controversial issues and values, raising critical consciousness of the context. During the conversations, a majority expressed that controversial issues were not something they dealt with at school. By working with controversial issues, the content of conflicts is made visible, and the possibility for students to recognize and respect each other’s diverse identities and perceptions increases. The goal of bringing controversial issues into education and conducting good discussions in the classroom is to help students develop and assess their opinions, gain an increased understanding, and consider new perspectives on various issues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young People’s Constructions of Identities: Global Perspectives)
43 pages, 523 KiB  
Review
Occupational Concepts: An Underutilized Resource to Further Disabled People and Others Being Occupied: A Scoping Review
by Gregor Wolbring and Simerta Gill
Societies 2023, 13(12), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120259 - 15 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2046
Abstract
Background: Being occupied is an important factor in human well-being and ranges from paid and unpaid work to activities of daily living. Various occupational concepts that do not contain health in the phrase such as “occupational justice” are employed to engage with the [...] Read more.
Background: Being occupied is an important factor in human well-being and ranges from paid and unpaid work to activities of daily living. Various occupational concepts that do not contain health in the phrase such as “occupational justice” are employed to engage with the social barriers people experience in being occupied. The aim of this study was to understand better to what extent the non-health occupational concepts are used in the academic literature to discuss the social barriers disabled people face in being occupied and whether these occupational concepts are used to enrich discussions in areas that impact the reality of occupation in general such as equity/equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), science and technology governance, well-being and the impact of environmental issues. Methods: a scoping review of academic abstracts employing SCOPUS, the 70 databases of EBSCO-HOST and Web of Science was performed. Results: We found 24,104 abstracts for the 28 occupational concepts we used in general and 624 abstracts in conjunction with disability terms. Of these 28 occupational concepts, “occupational performance” was mentioned the most (in 9739 of the 24,104 and 397 of the 624 abstracts). The next concept “occupational engagement” was already present in one tenth or less. Occupational justice was present in 700 of the 24,104 and 14 of the 624 abstracts. Furthermore, within the 24,104 and 624 abstracts EDI, science and technology governance, environmental topics, and well-being measures were rarely or not mentioned. Most of the 624 abstracts originated from occupational therapy journals. Only 23 of the 624 abstracts originated from journals with “disability”, and none with “disability studies” in the title. Conclusion: Non-health occupational concepts are underutilized in discourses that focus on decreasing the social barriers to being occupied in general and in relation to disabled people, which is a missed opportunity and should be fixed. Full article
16 pages, 271 KiB  
Article
Contesting State-Led Patriarchy—The Drivers, Demands and Dynamics of Women’s Participation in the Gezi Uprisings in Turkey 2013
by Nora Stein, Janet Kursawe and Denis Köhler
Societies 2023, 13(12), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120258 - 14 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1312
Abstract
The Gezi Park protests in Istanbul (Türkiye) gained worldwide attention in 2013. Both men and women took part in the protests, which were heavily cracked down on by the government. The present study examined 273 Turkish women’s attitudes and motivations for taking part [...] Read more.
The Gezi Park protests in Istanbul (Türkiye) gained worldwide attention in 2013. Both men and women took part in the protests, which were heavily cracked down on by the government. The present study examined 273 Turkish women’s attitudes and motivations for taking part in the protests. The results show that the following variables had a significant impact on protest participation: lifestyle threats posed by religious values/norms and by the government; feelings of marginalization as a woman; political dissatisfaction; gender discrimination; and affiliations with feminism. Regarding the impact of attitudes on women’s political participation and discrimination, this study provides insights into the state of research on gender discrimination and feministic identity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gender, Sexuality, and State Violence: International Perspectives on Institutional and Intersectional Justice)
17 pages, 449 KiB  
Article
Exploiting Sociocultural Issues in Election Campaign Discourse: The Case of Nyans in Sweden
by Mohammed Almahfali and Rola El-Husseini
Societies 2023, 13(12), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120257 - 13 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1294
Abstract
The Swedish far-right party, the Sweden Democrats (SD), came to power in 2022 and is currently the second-largest party in the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag. While it has been propagandizing an anti-migrant discourse, another newly founded party has been producing a counter-discourse. The [...] Read more.
The Swedish far-right party, the Sweden Democrats (SD), came to power in 2022 and is currently the second-largest party in the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag. While it has been propagandizing an anti-migrant discourse, another newly founded party has been producing a counter-discourse. The newly created Nyans party claims to represent migrants and minorities in Sweden. However, its discourse uses controversial issues that could potentially misrepresent those communities. Our study aimed to analyze Nyans’ Facebook posts published in the month leading up to the 2022 elections. Through our analysis process, which lasted from January to August 2023, we applied a critical discourse analysis approach to uncover the relationship between sociocultural issues and their social, political, and ideological contexts. The results reveal that Nyans’ discourse focused on opposing left-wing parties and aligned itself with the far-right. The discourse aligned with misinformation campaigns on social media when addressing sociocultural issues. These issues include the childcare law, the burning of the Qur’an, and the veil, which are pertinent to a particular perspective in the Muslim community and do not necessarily represent immigrants or minorities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Social Networks and Mediatization)
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13 pages, 3206 KiB  
Concept Paper
Conceptual and Methodological Arguments against the Use of Location Quotient as an Area-Based Measure of Residential Segregation: A Measurement Perspective
by Masayoshi Oka
Societies 2023, 13(12), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120256 - 11 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1394
Abstract
Among a wide range of practical applications, the location quotient (LQ) has been used as an area-based measure of residential segregation by race/ethnicity in some studies. However, it does not correspond to any of the five dimensions of residential segregation. Rather, an application [...] Read more.
Among a wide range of practical applications, the location quotient (LQ) has been used as an area-based measure of residential segregation by race/ethnicity in some studies. However, it does not correspond to any of the five dimensions of residential segregation. Rather, an application of LQ in demographic data analyses brings about an atypical way to quantify the population composition of areal units by race/ethnicity. To clarify misconceptions, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate the relationships between proportions, percentages, and LQs of six racial/ethnic groups in the conterminous United States (US). Since populations change over time, demographic data on race and ethnicity were obtained from the 2000, 2010, and 2020 Census through the US Census Bureau’s website. Using census tracts and counties as the units of analysis, a sequence of scatterplots and associated Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) was used to display the analytical results of census-tract- and county-based measures at three different time periods. Despite the different levels of aggregation, the relationships between proportions, percentages, and LQs of six racial/ethnic groups consistently showed perfect positive correlations at three different time periods (r = 1.00). These suggest that census-tract- and county-based measures expressed as the proportion, percentage, and LQ of a racial/ethnic group capture the same distributional pattern, but the units of measurement simply differ from one another. Hence, the study of residential segregation and its societal consequences needs to be specific to the dimension under study and to build upon the conceptual and methodological foundations established by sociologists-demographers and geographers. Full article
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15 pages, 751 KiB  
Article
A Mediation Model of the Usability and Intergroup Relation for Online Project Management Community Effectiveness with Microsoft Teams
by Walid Mahmoud Khalilia, Abdallatif Abuowda, Stylianos Mystakidis and Maria Fragkaki
Societies 2023, 13(12), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120255 - 08 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1662
Abstract
Effective international project team development and management is a crucial aspect of project management that directly influences the performance and satisfaction of team members. As reductions in travel and physical mobility are prioritized for sustainability efforts, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is [...] Read more.
Effective international project team development and management is a crucial aspect of project management that directly influences the performance and satisfaction of team members. As reductions in travel and physical mobility are prioritized for sustainability efforts, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is of paramount importance to identify and share effective innovative remote, online project management practices. The purpose of this study is to address the scarcity of related research and investigate the impact of Microsoft (MS) Teams usability on team management effectiveness as mediated by intergroup relation. The population of this study includes university personnel that have participated in the Erasmus+ project Benefit, with a sample size of 52 respondents. The data was analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0. The findings revealed that the usability of MS Teams had a direct, positive, and substantial influence on intergroup interactions and team performance. Further intergroup relations have a direct and significant impact on team effectiveness. The findings of the mediation study indicated that the association between MS Teams usability and team effectiveness is partially mediated by intergroup interactions. Full article
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27 pages, 381 KiB  
Concept Paper
Shaping an Image of Science in the 21st Century: The Perspective of Metamodernism
by Anita Pipere and Kristīne Mārtinsone
Societies 2023, 13(12), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120254 - 06 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1722
Abstract
In a contemporary world facing countless multifaceted crises and challenges, science can still serve as one of the most powerful tools to deal with the ordeals of our time. However, the scientific community needs to provide space for reflection on novel ways of [...] Read more.
In a contemporary world facing countless multifaceted crises and challenges, science can still serve as one of the most powerful tools to deal with the ordeals of our time. However, the scientific community needs to provide space for reflection on novel ways of developing its centuries-old heritage and unlocking its potential for the benefit of the world and humanity. The purpose of this article was to deliberate on the image of contemporary science within the framework of the new philosophical paradigm of metamodernism. Following historical strands related to metamodernism and science, the authors encircled the general features and elaborated the main philosophical principles of metamodernism. The main task was to identify elements of contemporary science that conform to the philosophical principles of metamodernism. Thus, several features of science and research, such as the structure of science, scientific truth, metanarratives of science, scientific thinking, system of science, interaction of scientific disciplines, dialogue of science with society and politics, open science, digitalisation of science, etc., were interpreted through the perspective of the ontological, epistemological, axiological, and methodological principles of metamodernism. This article ends with a summary of the main points of the discussion and practical implications of the presented ideas. Full article
12 pages, 229 KiB  
Article
Complexity Theory in Health Promotion Research: Four Essential Principles Based on Niklas Luhmann’s Systems Theory
by Dan Grabowski, Jens Aagaard-Hansen, Morten Hulvej Rod and Bjarne Bruun Jensen
Societies 2023, 13(12), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120253 - 06 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2150
Abstract
Complexity-oriented approaches built on complexity theories are not widely used in health promotion research. The field of health promotion faces significant difficulties in explaining and addressing unforeseen impacts and side effects due to the widespread tendency to implement health promotion initiatives that are [...] Read more.
Complexity-oriented approaches built on complexity theories are not widely used in health promotion research. The field of health promotion faces significant difficulties in explaining and addressing unforeseen impacts and side effects due to the widespread tendency to implement health promotion initiatives that are considered best practices. It is important to theoretically embrace the fact that we operate in a complex world and that we, therefore, need to redefine our approaches by acknowledging the complexities involved in promoting health. In this theoretical paper, we propose a set of four complexity-oriented principles for health promotion research based on Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory: (1) direct transfer of health knowledge and health competencies is impossible; (2) all individuals and social entities are fundamentally different from each other; (3) the individual’s sense of health-related meaning determines what is deemed relevant; and (4) it is essential for communication to meet expectations if it is to be observed. The set of principles presented in this article can be applied to research projects intended to explore and address challenges related to complexity in health promotion settings. It can be used as a lens through which to observe health promotion practice. If health promotion research wants to address the field that we have defined for ourselves as extremely complex and unaddressed by anyone else, we need to embrace approaches that actually do this—by providing health promotion research with a formal framework appropriate to its existing main purposes and concerns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Lifestyle: The Relevance of Health Promotion for Society)
16 pages, 700 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Third Digital Divide in Relation to Digital Socialization Itineraries among University Students in Uruguay
by Mariano Agustin González-Chouciño and Raúl Ruiz-Callado
Societies 2023, 13(12), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120252 - 06 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1613
Abstract
The social transformations generated by digitization and the increasing prominence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in social relations have underscored the need to delve deeper into the analysis of digital divides to enhance our understanding of social inequalities in the digital age. [...] Read more.
The social transformations generated by digitization and the increasing prominence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in social relations have underscored the need to delve deeper into the analysis of digital divides to enhance our understanding of social inequalities in the digital age. Thus, sociology has delved into identifying the variables that underpin differential capacities to make productive use of digital technologies for improving living conditions, a phenomenon referred to as the third digital divide. This study delves into this issue by analyzing the digital socialization itineraries of young people. To achieve this, the technique of techno-biographical interviews was employed with 30 university students in Uruguay. Through the classification of interviews into clusters based on coding similarity, five digital socialization itineraries were identified: contextual disengagement, aspirational advancement, productive channeling, controlled development, and abusive development. By closely examining these groups, a set of variables with significant biographical impacts was identified, affecting both the capacity to harness digital technologies and the potential risks associated with their use. The findings hold relevance for guiding research in the field and for policymakers in addressing ICT education challenges during childhood and adolescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Interactions and the Technology Development: Perspectives on E-Societies)
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12 pages, 275 KiB  
Article
“Festival y Protesta”: The Integral Role of Protesting State Violence in Celebrating Puerto Rican Women and Feminists
by Amaury J. Rijo Sánchez
Societies 2023, 13(12), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120251 - 05 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1694
Abstract
Eradicating the mistreatment of Puerto Rican women and people that local and U.S. governments enact has been a major transformative goal for Puerto Rican feminist movement communities. The celebration of International Working Women’s Day presents optimum opportunities for organizations to celebrate and make [...] Read more.
Eradicating the mistreatment of Puerto Rican women and people that local and U.S. governments enact has been a major transformative goal for Puerto Rican feminist movement communities. The celebration of International Working Women’s Day presents optimum opportunities for organizations to celebrate and make visible the monumental achievements of Puerto Rican women and people. Similarly, they foster the opportunity to strategically protest the large-scale and harmful attacks of the United States and Puerto Rico’s (abbreviated throughout as U.S. and P.R.) governing double-bind onto minority Puerto Rican populations. Feminist activists, protesters, artists, and attendees collaborate in performances, speeches, and overall programming, resulting in dually celebratory and protest-based marches. Further, the multifaceted approach to protesting observed at the celebration of International Working Women’s Day shines light on decolonial and feminist efforts that bring about social justice and transformation. This article analyses ethnographic data collected through participant observation in one march held in Puerto Rico, as well as a small archive of news articles relating to said march. Results reflect strategic forms of organizing and protesting that exercise activists’ agency in communication with the government and state. Further, they show the demand for accountability and action in favor of minority Puerto Rican populations. Simultaneously, the results also shine a light on the synergistic character of state and government approaches to minimize the impact of activist protesting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gender, Sexuality, and State Violence: International Perspectives on Institutional and Intersectional Justice)
14 pages, 239 KiB  
Article
Developmental Outcomes among Children within the Context of Maternal Incarceration: Findings from a Study of Family Inequality
by Zina T. McGee
Societies 2023, 13(12), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120250 - 04 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1635
Abstract
This research addresses behavior difficulties and maladaptive coping among African American children and adolescents, and the manner in which these outcomes differ among those with incarcerated mothers. The study also provides an in-depth analysis of the experiences of mothers during and after their [...] Read more.
This research addresses behavior difficulties and maladaptive coping among African American children and adolescents, and the manner in which these outcomes differ among those with incarcerated mothers. The study also provides an in-depth analysis of the experiences of mothers during and after their incarceration. Earlier investigations suggested that mothers’ victimization and offending, including drug use, are related to children’s emotional and behavioral outcomes. Hence, this research extends an ongoing project by investigating the nature of this relationship using aggregate data on adolescent health outcomes. Generally, most research addresses parental incarceration, typically followed by negative responses of male youth. Less research has evaluated the outcomes of parents’ incarceration on African American children and adolescents specifically. This is particularly true among those with incarcerated mothers. Additionally, examinations have highlighted the role of fathers’ incarceration on negative family functioning, yet we know less about the impact of mothers’ imprisonment and re-entry on children’s behavior. Many of these mothers are single and live in poverty, and their economic situations lead to higher risks of recidivism, deleteriously affecting their children. Moreover, several of them are raising children while experiencing traumatic mental health concerns amid drug usage with minimal support or treatment. For the current project, special attention is also placed on the mothers’ experiences with contact with children, prior history of substance abuse, mental illness, treatment for drug and alcohol problems, and coping with separation from children in an attempt to reveal the subsequent, harmful impact on children’s behavioral adjustment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Solutions)
21 pages, 545 KiB  
Review
Strength and Resilience for Kinship Caregivers Raising Children: A Scoping Review
by Qi Wu, Yanfeng Xu, Fei Pei and Naeun Lim
Societies 2023, 13(12), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120249 - 01 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2063
Abstract
Kinship care is a preferred living arrangement for children when they have to separate from their birth parents due to various reasons. Although kinship care emphasized family and cultural value of connection, kinship families haven been considered as a vulnerable population since they [...] Read more.
Kinship care is a preferred living arrangement for children when they have to separate from their birth parents due to various reasons. Although kinship care emphasized family and cultural value of connection, kinship families haven been considered as a vulnerable population since they often face myriad and longstanding challenges on both caregivers and child levels. Previous studies have described the challenges and needs that kinship families had, but there has been a continued call for shifting the paradigm from a problem-focused approach to a strengths-focused perspective. After searching in seven research databases, this scoping review identified 25 studies that examined resilience factors that were related to kinship caregivers raising their relative’s child/ren. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included in this review. The findings showed that the resilience factors are involved with the following five aspects: caregiver characteristics, motivation, stress coping, caregiver’s family, and support. Through summarizing and discussing the resilience factors, this review calls for attention to be paid to the strengths of kinship families. This finding encourages future social work practitioners and researchers to build resilience in kinship families so that positive outcomes for kinship families can be promoted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Research on Kinship Care and Its Role in Child Protection and Well-Being)
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16 pages, 300 KiB  
Article
Reluctant Republic: A Positive Right for Older People to Refuse AI-Based Technology
by George Tudorie
Societies 2023, 13(12), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120248 - 01 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1605
Abstract
Societies in the global North face a future of accelerated ageing. In this context, advanced technology, especially that involving artificial intelligence (AI), is often presented as a natural counterweight to stagnation and decay. While it is a reasonable expectation that AI will play [...] Read more.
Societies in the global North face a future of accelerated ageing. In this context, advanced technology, especially that involving artificial intelligence (AI), is often presented as a natural counterweight to stagnation and decay. While it is a reasonable expectation that AI will play important roles in such societies, the manner in which it affects the lives of older people needs to be discussed. Here I argue that older people should be able to exercise, if they so choose, a right to refuse AI-based technologies, and that this right cannot be purely negative. There is a public duty to provide minimal conditions to exercise such a right, even if majorities in the relevant societies disagree with skeptical attitudes towards technology. It is crucial to recognize that there is nothing inherently irrational or particularly selfish in refusing to embrace technologies that are commonly considered disruptive and opaque, especially when the refusers have much to lose. Some older individuals may understandably decide that they indeed stand to lose a whole world of familiar facts and experiences, competencies built in decades of effort, and autonomy in relation to technology. The current default of investigating older people’s resistance to technology as driven by fear or exaggerated emotion in general, and therefore as something to be managed and extinguished, is untenable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic AI in the Everyday Life of Older Adults: Panacea or Pandora's Box?)
12 pages, 256 KiB  
Article
Identity and Multiplicity of Belonging in a Europe in Search of Democracy
by Sandra Chistolini, Andrea Porcarelli and Emilio Lastrucci
Societies 2023, 13(12), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120247 - 28 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1700
Abstract
The research we present concerns the narratives of political and social identity of young adolescents sampled in Northern, Central and Southern Italy. Our qualitative analysis is based on constructivism and aims to enhance narratives by privileging the communication of meanings elaborated by the [...] Read more.
The research we present concerns the narratives of political and social identity of young adolescents sampled in Northern, Central and Southern Italy. Our qualitative analysis is based on constructivism and aims to enhance narratives by privileging the communication of meanings elaborated by the young people. Consistent with this perspective is our choice of the paradigm of pedagogical personalism, which places the human being as a ‘person’ at the center of reflection. The diverse universe of youth manifests multifaceted aspects that it is possible to bring out using interaction with deliberative, open, and non-pre-conceptual discussion. The link between semantic cores such as democracy, freedom, rights, interculturalism, and citizenship runs through the analyses of the entire research (based on the study by Ross’s work in 2019, Finding Political Identities: Young People in a Changing Europe), examined here specifically in the Italian context. The article presents some contrasting aspects of the way young people living in Europe. They harbor uncertainties and discontinuities from the universe of values inherited from previous generations. However, from the tunnel of doubt young people show that they know how to emerge by outlining the forms of a promise of social commitment containing a hope for change, defined as the design of a future in which alternatives to the current situation can be found. In the background, the theme of democracy shows as an aspiration for something still struggling to be born. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young People’s Constructions of Identities: Global Perspectives)
1 pages, 173 KiB  
Retraction
RETRACTED: Mazzamuto, M.; Picone, M. The Commodification Dilemma: Tourism Pressure and Heritage Conservation in Barcelona. Societies 2022, 12, 111
by Marina Mazzamuto and Marco Picone
Societies 2023, 13(12), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120246 - 27 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1086
Abstract
The journal retracts the article “The Commodification Dilemma: Tourism Pressure and Heritage Conservation in Barcelona” cited above [...] Full article
13 pages, 1165 KiB  
Article
Youth Democratic Political Identity and Disaffection: Active Citizenship and Participation to Counteract Populism and Polarization in Barcelona
by Miquel Àngel Essomba, Maria Nadeu and Anna Tarrés
Societies 2023, 13(12), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13120245 - 25 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1778
Abstract
Globally, youth satisfaction with democracy is declining—not only in absolute terms, but also relative to how older generations felt at the same stage in their lives. Young people’s democratic political identity is lower than any other age group. One can point to concrete [...] Read more.
Globally, youth satisfaction with democracy is declining—not only in absolute terms, but also relative to how older generations felt at the same stage in their lives. Young people’s democratic political identity is lower than any other age group. One can point to concrete factors to explain such declines—ranging from the growth of youth unemployment to the persistence of corruption and poverty in new democracies. Growing discontent with living conditions is taken advantage of by populist leaders. This populist rule—whether from the right or the left—has a highly negative effect on democratic political identities (especially on youth) and can lead to a significant risk of democratic erosion. Our research aims to explore the significance of youth identification with democracy, and their participation approaches as an alternative to the decline in democratic quality in Barcelona, Spain. Using quantitative data collection and analysis, in this article we present the first results of our research and suggest a path for further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Young People’s Constructions of Identities: Global Perspectives)
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