Section 1: Quality of Life and its Sustainability
Coordinator: Filomena Maggino, University of Florence, Italy. filomena.maggino@unifi.it
Ioan Mărginean , Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, imargin@iccv.ro
This session will host contributions from quality-of-life researchers representing different positions and parts of Europe and addressing questions like: Is it possible and do we need to maintain the current level of material wealth to sustain quality of life for future generations? Should developing societies follow the model of the affluent western societies in order to improve the quality of life of their citizens, and if not, what are alternative paths of development? What is the role of nature and its preservation with a view to quality of life? How do quality of life and sustainability relate to each other from a subjective well-being point of view?
Section 2: Child Well-Being
Coordinators: Asher Ben-Arieh, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, asherb@savion.huji.ac.il
Ferran Casas, University of Girona, Spain, ferran.casas@udg.edu
Sergiu Băltățescu, Universitatea din Oradea, bsergiu2@gmail.com
Child well-being is a field of research that has rapidly developed during the very recent decades. New international scientific societies, such as ISCI (International Society for Child Indicators) and new international scientific journals (such as Child Indicators Research) have appeared a few years ago. A relevant number of new scientific publications, including sets of books and a 5-volume international handbook published by Springer have appeared. Researchers have become aware that we do not know enough about the situation children live in throughout the world. Particularly, we do not know children’s worlds from children’s perspective. The research of children’s quality of like includes children’s perceptions, evaluations and aspirations of their own lives. However, there is a bid scientific gap in the research of children’s subjective well-being, which is years ahead of adults’ subjective well-being. There is an urgent need of sharing rigorous research on children’s well-being in order to improve it by creating awareness among children, their parents and their communities, but also among opinion leaders, decision makers, professionals and the general public. An ongoing international research project, supported by the Jacobs Foundations aims to determine the degree of children’s well-being in as many countries as possible, hoping to raise awareness to children’s well-being and their life situations and to influence government policies and services. Different researchers who will bring all of these challenges together will be invited to participate in this section and to present their current research on child well-being.
Section 3: Changes and Constants: Understanding European Societies using Qualitative Research Methods
Coordinators: Bögre Zsuzsanna, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary. natikrisz@gmail.com
Bernath Krisztina, Partium Christian University of Oradea. krisztinabernath@gmail.com
Ozana Cucu Oancea, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, ocucuoancea@yahoo.com
In the context of permanent societal changes the structure of the identity is also permanently challenged. Still, in some aspects there are layers that remain unchanged. Focusing on cultural, social and economic changes that occurred in the past decades we expect to achieve a better insight on issues that shapes personal biographies and perspectives aiming to understand the small scale units of the society. In this section we warmly welcome papers - conceptual, methodological and/or research-based - that use qualitative methods in exploring different issues of identity reflecting constant and changing elements of personal biographies or social structures. Contributions to the debates of the section can be from any field of social sciences using qualitative methods as research tool. The language of the section is English.
Section 4: Convictions about Social World in the Times of Crisis: Entitlement and Other Expectations Toward People, Institutions and State
Coordinators: Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska, University of Gdansk, Poland. psymzp@ug.edu.pl
Jarosław Piotrowski, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznań Faculty, Poland, jaroslaw.piotrowski@swps.edu.pl
Ana Maria Matei, amatei@snspa.ro
Corina Dumitrescu, Universitatea Creștină Dimitrie Cantemir, rectorat@ucdc.ro
Under the crisis many governments seek for economic solution for limiting their expenses and stabilize the national economy in this way. One of the most popular sources of “savings” is decrease in level of social benefits. Exaggerated expectations toward state are believed to be a source of economic crisis in many European countries, like Greece, Portugal, or Italy. In present section we would like to highlight the problem of different aspects of entitlement attitudes, their relation with activity and passivity, values, and quality of life. Especially, we intend to discuss to what extent they are based on self-worthiness and assertiveness, and by it, they are simply expression of basic human rights, and to what extent they are exploitive, rooted in communist past and/or “addiction” to the welfare state. This discussion is illustrated by findings of our international project on relation between entitlement attitudes and values in 27 countries.
Section 5: Ethnicity and Politics in Central and Eastern Europe
Coordinators: Sergiu Gherghina, Goethe University Frankfurt sergiulor@yahoo.com
Levente Salat, Babes-Bolyai University, lsalat@edrc.ro
The breakdown of Communism and the disintegration of USSR in the early 1990’s represent a turning point in the history of the states from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. One of the biggest challenges these countries faced at the beginning of their transition period is the accommodation of ethnic minorities and their re-emerging identities. Ethnicity is usually defined along the lines of common features for a group of people, whether they refer to religion, language, culture, mythology, physical resemblance, or combinations of these elements. The emerging ethnic disputes were sometimes solved through violence (e.g. former Yugoslavia, Moldova) and other times through restrictive legislation (e.g. Estonia, Latvia). However, the most common approach was to bring the ethnicity on the political arena where the formation of ethnic political movements could ensure representation of ethnic groups. This panel seeks to identify the state of the art and evolution of the relationship between ethnicity and politics in post-Communist Europe. We welcome single-case studies and comparative papers that can describe patterns, identify trends, or reveal causal mechanisms.
Invited topics may include (but are not limited to):
- Ethnic identity and political mobilization of ethnic groups;
- Individual and collective rights of ethnic minorities;
- Political instruments of diversity management;
- Autonomy claims, territorial disputes, and political representation;
- Kin-state policies (e.g. citizenship, other forms of support for kins living abroad);
- The politics of new ethnic minorities;
- Ethnic mobilization and majority counter-mobilization: forms of anti-diversity discourse;
- Ethnic minorities and the radical right discourse;
Section 6: Societal Security and Community Risks in the European Union
Coordinators: Ilie Bădescu, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, badescu@insoc.ro
Adela Şerban, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, adela.serban@gmail.com
Lucian Dumitrescu, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, dulust@gmail.com
Contemporary societies face not only focused social problems, which weaken certain particular groups, but also risks and insecurities that may afflict their stability and internal coherence. A good European society depends massively on the awareness of (both institutional and normative) structural problems and risk factors which consequences lead or may lead to dead ends and syncopes in the overall functioning of the whole society. This section invites researchers interested in assessing the responding and resistance capacity of society in front of existing or imminent threats, and also the effectiveness of policies, strategies and government actions in preventing or hindering the escalation of societal insecurity. Within this section are welcomed papers focused on the EU space. Theoretical and methodological contributions to the study of societal security, analysis and applied research on identity, human rights, public policies or social problems which engender structural effects are also accepted.
Section 7: Violence and Crime. Trends, Risk Factors, Prevention and Social Control
Coordinators: Dan Banciu, Institutul de Sociologie. angela_banciu@yahoo.com.
Balica Ecaterina, Institutul de Sociologie. catibalica@yahoo.com
Balica Ecaterina, Institutul de Sociologie. catibalica@yahoo.com
In the last years, the specialists in sociology of crime, sociology of deviance and criminology have tried, more often, to address aspects regarding organized crime, violent crime, human trafficking, domestic violence, immigrant crime, cyber crime, juvenile delinquency, economic crime etc. The respective studies aimed either to identify the factors that determine the occurrence and multiplication of certain delinquent acts, or to asses the activity of the institutions involved in the process of social control.
The section will include studies that address aspects regarding the tendencies and the factors that determined the occurrence of violent behaviour, as well as results of certain investigations that aimed to evaluate the way the institutions of the justice system are functioning (first instance court, district court, court of appeal, police, probation services, organisations of mediation).
Section 8: Patterns of Family Models and Roles in Contemporary Society.
Coordinators: Floare Chipea, Universitatea din Oradea, fchipea@gmail.com
Raluca Popescu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, raluca@iccv.ro
Modern social values, new behaviour patterns and profound social changes define contemporary society as a different reality from the one characterizing traditional society. Although family is still represented as the central core of the society, the fundamental framework for the development of the human personality, contemporary society defines unique configurations and patterns of family models and roles. The works presented in this section are expected to address contemporary family issues like: new family and their implications for family members (both positive and negative), transformations occurring in family structure, social roles within the family group, division of marital roles, new patterns in selecting the life partner, evolutionary trends in the rate of marriage, birth and divorce, transformations occurring within the family functions. Approaches regarding the family are not limited to the above mentioned topics, any specific issue regarding fundamental aspects of contemporary family are accepted for presentation and analysis.
Section 9: Community and health
Coordinators: Adela Elena Popa, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, adela.popa@gmail.com
Şerban Olah, Universitatea din Oradea, serbanolah2002@yahoo.com
Making individuals and communities more responsible and involved in the health care process is one of the main aims that underlie the current health reforms in many countries. Increasing the accountability and empowerment of local levels (individuals, communities) for taking control of their lives and health, represents a core goal for the governments in these countries. Changes in this direction have been initiated in Romania also, through a series of policies and measures taken in order to bring the health services closer to the beneficiaries of the health care system. Nevertheless, the level of involvement among the community actors in Romania is still low.
The panel will welcome theoretical or empirical papers discussing issues at the intersection of the two concepts, community and health, such as: community participation/involvement in health; policies, programmes and measures bringing the health care closer to the community; communities’ response to policies regarding health; urban versus rural communities facing health care issues; governments efforts to strengthen the liaison with the local authorities for a better management of the health care issues. The panel will have an interdisciplinary approach. Papers dealing with the two concepts both from a sociological or medical perspective are accepted.
Section 10: Quality of life, inequality and vulnerability
* Section organized with the help of the PN-II-RU-TE-2011-3-0104 project, financed by CNCS-UEFISCDI.
Coordinators: Iuliana Precupetu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii iuliana@iccv.ro.
Ana Maria Preoteasa, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii anita@iccv.ro.
High quality of life along with the subsequent important levels of living standards have been seen for the past decades as secure in Western Europe, while for the Eastern societies have been considered as a mere goal. The recent economic crisis revealed a certain insecurity of living conditions and a vulnerability of specific segments of population even for the most developed societies but especially for the less developed economically. However, the extent of vulnerability varied by country and its welfare regime, and exposure to risks and shocks differed for individuals and households by their socio-demographic background.
We welcome all papers that explore topical trends in quality of life, investigate the possible impacts that the recent crisis might have had on living conditions and discover the patterning of such impacts. In our section, special attention will be paid to inequality and its impact on both living conditions and vulnerability as its effects have been sharpened by the economic crisis.
Section 11: Standard and Style of Life
Coordinators: Mariana Stanciu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, mariana1stanciu@yahoo.comAdina Mihăilescu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, adina.mihailescu@yahoo.com
The population, just like society itself, changes with time. For most of them, the restrictions of the material-financial side of life does not leave room for too many alternatives, and some people answer faster to these challenges, whilst others answer slower. Having followed all these aspects related to standards of life, the styles of life, and the consumer habits of the population, during the last years, we can say that a re-evaluation of daily expenses is necessary, as far as some segments of the population are concerned. Having a decent standard of life allows the expression of essential freedom and human dignity, through a normal social integration within the society we live in. In the current phase, the material dimension of social welfare became basic premises for the existence of an equitable and long-lasting social order, which implies all members of human comunities to own a minimal stock of economic goods.
Within the Institute of Research for the Quality of Life there have always been research teams with an interest and published studies in this field, some of them thoretical, targetting specialists, and some others more accessible, written for the public. The observed perspectives are related to consumption, income, and the way in which this income can cover consumption necessities. This is an expression of the population’s capacity to buy goods and services in a particular moment in time or over an extended period of analysis, as well as the ocurring changes within a short, medium or long time frame.
Section 12: The Contribution of Social Work Services to a "Good Society”
Coordinators: Elena Zamfir, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, ezamfir1@gmail.com
Ștefan Cojocaru, Universitatea Al. Ioan Cuza din Iaşi, contact@stefancojocaru.ro
Daniel Arpinte, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, darpinte@yahoo.com
The changes suggested by the social work system (services and benefits) is automatically reflected in the project of a balanced society, and especially in the process of social inclusion. Social work, as a key part of social protection, has suggested, throughout the years, specific forms of support for various vulnerable categories (young people, unemployed, children in difficult situation, poor families, unautonomous elderly people, etc.), with the purpose of integrating these categories in the community and in a better life. Personalized social work services represent the specialized part of social work and play a decisive role in the recovering process of marginalized social segments, who depend upon social support. This section will contain analyses and proposals for new types of social work services and policies on the community level, able to bring balance and normality for communities and individuals in difficult situations.
Section 13: Welfare Economics and Contemporary Society. Economic and Social Models of Development. Theoretical and Empirical Approaches. Critical Analyses and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Coordinators: Ionela Bălțătescu, Institutul de Economie Mondială. ibaltatescu@iem.ro
Iulia Monica Oehler-Șincai, Institutul de Economie Mondială, monica.oehler@iem.ro
While human welfare and happiness are ancient philosophical and ethical themes of reflection, scientific analysis of human wellbeing is rather a modern preoccupation. It remains an interesting philosophical question whether it is possible to construe a scientific theory of human welfare and happiness and to what extent it is justified to advance economic and social policies on this account. Papers on this topic are encouraged in this section of the conference. Welfare economics, as a subfield of economics, is concerned, broadly speaking, with the discovery and examination of the economic and social conditions of human welfare. Theoretical papers resuming, analyzing and critical assessing the main theses and presuppositions of economic theories of welfare are welcomed.Empirical and applied analyses of economic and social models of development and also of economic policies and their economic and social impact on human welfare in contemporary society (e.g. European Union member states, Central and South- Eastern European countries etc.) will be highly appreciated. Empirical and applied analyses of policies their economic and social impact on human welfare in contemporary society (e.g. European Union member states, Central and South-Eastern European countries etc.) will be highly appreciated. Interdisciplinary approaches to welfare, combining insights from economic theory and other fields of research, such as philosophy, ethics, anthropology, sociology, political science, history etc. are also encouraged.
While human welfare and happiness are ancient philosophical and ethical themes of reflection, scientific analysis of human wellbeing is rather a modern preoccupation. It remains an interesting philosophical question whether it is possible to construe a scientific theory of human welfare and happiness and to what extent it is justified to advance economic and social policies on this account. Papers on this topic are encouraged in this section of the conference. Welfare economics, as a subfield of economics, is concerned, broadly speaking, with the discovery and examination of the economic and social conditions of human welfare. Theoretical papers resuming, analyzing and critical assessing the main theses and presuppositions of economic theories of welfare are welcomed.Empirical and applied analyses of economic and social models of development and also of economic policies and their economic and social impact on human welfare in contemporary society (e.g. European Union member states, Central and South- Eastern European countries etc.) will be highly appreciated. Empirical and applied analyses of policies their economic and social impact on human welfare in contemporary society (e.g. European Union member states, Central and South-Eastern European countries etc.) will be highly appreciated. Interdisciplinary approaches to welfare, combining insights from economic theory and other fields of research, such as philosophy, ethics, anthropology, sociology, political science, history etc. are also encouraged.
Section 14: Re(assessing) the Language of Rights and Solidarity
Coordinator: Silviu-Gabriel Totelecan, Cluj-Napoca Branch of Romanian Academy, silviu.totelecan@gmail.com
Simona Ilie, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, sf_ilie@yahoo.co.uk
Crowds of analysts of Western and Eastern European realities alike, makes us believe that our contemporary world was shattered by the twin crisis of market and state. But that didn’t come in a vacuum, it was the outcome of the profound ideological weakness of right and left, both of them being too heavy-handed in using the state, and too light-touch in regulating markets. Alternating the focus on state/market, the governance increased the social order fragmentation (i.e. we became less civil, more self-centred, more aggressive, more hostile, less willing to devote time to causes greater than ourselves) and therefore the crisis of society has deepened. Hand in hand with the erosion of civic bonds, a large number of institutions, concerned to get and less to give, have failed to capture the dialectic between altruism and self-interest.
Crowds of analysts of Western and Eastern European realities alike, makes us believe that our contemporary world was shattered by the twin crisis of market and state. But that didn’t come in a vacuum, it was the outcome of the profound ideological weakness of right and left, both of them being too heavy-handed in using the state, and too light-touch in regulating markets. Alternating the focus on state/market, the governance increased the social order fragmentation (i.e. we became less civil, more self-centred, more aggressive, more hostile, less willing to devote time to causes greater than ourselves) and therefore the crisis of society has deepened. Hand in hand with the erosion of civic bonds, a large number of institutions, concerned to get and less to give, have failed to capture the dialectic between altruism and self-interest.
These counter-social developments have, nevertheless, a positive side: we become more than ever aware of the fact that for substantial periods (e.g., as children, young people, when we are sick or aged, jobless etc.) we are fully dependent upon others and others upon us. Consequently we need to frankly acknowledge our relational reality and enhance our feelings of obligation toward our co-citizens, neighbors, intimates etc. Through the language of rights, mechanisms that encourage an empathic solidarity, reciprocity and mutuality can be introduced, and the development of a more affiliative welfare state achieved. This section aims to open the debate about the needed framework for a workable “good society”.
Section 15: The Left, the Right, and Welfare Ideologies
Coordinator: Eugenia Udangiu, Universitatea din Craiova, eudangiu@yahoo.com
From Calvin to nowadays we can speak about an ideology of salvation whose ultimate test is the welfare. In other words, the welfare as wealth is an important empirical evidence of their chances of being chosen for the happy version of eternal life. With “disenchantment of the world" were the political ideologies that have addressed the issue of welfare and proposed definitions, models and means to achieve it. We talk about: Welfare: objective conditions and subjective definitions; Who gets what and how; Equality, freedom and well-being perverse effects; Uncertainty, risk and welfare; Opportunities, expectations and welfare paradox.
Section 16: Communication and the „Good Society”
Coordinators: Camelia Beciu, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, beciu@insoc.ro
Nicolae Perpelea, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, perpelea@gmail.com
Section 17: e-Europe 2.0 – An Information Society for All?
Coordinator: Bogdan Nadolu, Universitatea Vest din Timișoara, bnadolu@socio.uvt.ro
In 1999 the European Commission launched the e-Europe initiative dedicated to spread the access to the information technology all over Europe, in order to create "an information society for all". After almost 15 years can we speak about an information society for all Europeans? Is it this motto still only a desideratum? Into this section we propose you to discuss about the actual advantages and disadvantages to be on-line, about the digital exclusion and the digital disconnect, about the new social digital resources for well-being into the contemporary society, all over the world. Any research papers, case studies, and theoretical approaches concerning the sociological reality of the digital universe are welcome.
Section 18: Media and Children: Uses, Perceptions, Risks and Opportunities
Coordinators: Anca Velicu, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română , anca.velicu@gmail.com
Monica Mitarcă, Universitatea Creştină Dimitrie Cantemir, Facultatea de Ştiinţe Politice. monamitarca@yahoo.com
PC/laptop connected to the Internet, smartphone or just about any phone, mp3 player, game console, TV, tablet and, not as seldom, books and magazines: that’s how the environment of a child/teenager looks like, most of the times. Moreover, at least on one screen (PC, laptop or tablet), several applications are open, such as IM, SNS, music and film sharing sites, games. In the meantime, they text or talk on the phone.
A media saturated environment leading us to believe that youth, nowadays, is connected to the network almost permanently. But is that true? Beyond the physical access to all these devices, to what extent they are really used by children and youth? How (circumstances, purpose, interests) do they use one medium or another? What is, for them, the permanent Internet access? Are they more vulnerable and exposed to risks, or rather more fortunate for having access to them? Should we protect – or encourage them?
This section aims towards finding some answers, but also the papers problematizing the methodological aspects of such studies.
Section 19: Adolescents and Youth. Is Society „Good” for Them (too)?
Coordinators: Octav Marcovici, Asociația Română de Sociologie, octav_m@yahoo.com
Ancuța Plăeșu, Institutul de Științe ale Educației, ancuta.plaesu@gmail.com
Adolescence is not subject to official definition in either international treaties or Romanian legislation; unfortunately, it is not subject to specific policies either. Public policies usually refer to either children or youth, but this specific category situated at in their overlapping area does not benefit from either suitable attention by social research or targeted policies. On the other hand, the processes and phenomena from nowadays societies expose adolescents, and youth as well, to risks they are not prepared to cope with and so less to manage. This section aims at offering room for analysing and discussing the issues relating to transition from childhood to adulthood, with special emphasis on its early phase and on the extent to which the Romanian and European societies are “good societies” also for adolescents and young people.
Section 20: New Methodologies in Approaching the Social Phenomenon . The Study of Ethnic Relations.
Coordinators: Radu Baltasiu, Centrul European de Studii în Probleme Etnice, Academia Română, radu.baltasiu@gmail.com
Zatreanu Mihaela, Romano Kher, Centrul Național de Cultură al Romilor, mihaela.zatreanu@gmail.com
The Section entitled „New methodologies in approaching the social phenomenon” has the objective to highlight the necessity of being up-to-date in terms of methodology and the working paradigm in the field of social sciences. Thus, the section is meant to attract the attention of both young or renown researchers or members of the academia that are interested in the most recent developments regarding the methodological framework at the international level, as well as those who wish to promote new original ideas, instruments, techniques and methods used in the process of gathering, filtering and interpreting social data.
We hereby encourage contributions from areas of expertise such as methodology in social sciences, ethnic and historical studies, cultural studies, rural sociology and anthropology, the analysis of the educational or healthcare systems, micro or macro economical analyses , international relations etc.
Section 21: Contributions of the Minority Groups to Cultural, Urban and Scientific Heritage in the Common Space
Coordinators: Vasile Burtea, Universitatea Hyperion, vasile.burtea@yahoo.com
Dr. Mariea Ionescu, marieaionescu@yahoo.com
The theme aims to highlight the contribution of different minorities to benefit of the community or nation. This is to improve their self-image, decrease hostility, elimination of indifference and a step towards intercultural ism. Of course, quoting, highlighting or portraying different stakeholders is expected and welcomed. Such a theme aims, in our acceptation, to stimulate inter-ethnic dialogue, mutual understanding of values, norms and other personalities. Each other appreciation and use means a higher step in the social relationship that is built.
Section 22: Identity and Interculturalism in European Social Space
Coordinator: Mictat Gârlan, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, miktatgarlan@yahoo.com
The dynamics of contemporary society shows that identities are subject to permanent changes and as a result, the meanings of this concept are still unstable, being in a state of entropy sharp, open the polemics and fruitful discussions, especially social sciences researchers. Socio-cultural identities in Europe, ethnic and regional identities are constructed with the help of symbolic unifying, but with differentiated characteristics, with cultural patterns of behaviour, which are specific to the nature of the world and life. Social identity is based primarily on the consciousness of common traditions. Also, from recent research concerning the dynamics of the identity as an active social process, developed in regions characterized by interculturalism, was removed the assumption that social identity is based not only on common heritage, especially on common problems and similar structural responses to new challenges. The section intends to explore analytical the impact of paneuropeanization on the identity crisis generated by globalisation, including in the case of new Member States and candidate countries to the European Union.Section 23: Social Policies in Romania's New Social Context
Coordinators: Cătălin Zamfir, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, catalin.basarab@gmail.com
Iulian Stănescu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, stanescu.iccv@gmail.com
Iulian Stănescu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, stanescu.iccv@gmail.com
Ștefan Buzărnescu, Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara, buzarnescu.stefan@gmail.com
We live in a time of major economic and social changes, and these are having a major impact on social policies. Austerity policies, both on international level and in Romania, generated pressure on public finances to decrease social expenses in a time when the need for social protection is increasing. The growth of economic and social inequalities, the persistent lack of jobs, demographic changes, environmental problems and technologic changes offer a new reference frame regarding social policies. The section represents a debate forum of the most important issues, risks and decisions that are faced by decision-makers, practitioners and researchers in the field of social policies. We encourage presentation proposals on a wide list of topics, such as:
- distribution of the income of the population and social inequalities;
- social work and vulnerable groups; We live in a time of major economic and social changes, and these are having a major impact on social policies. Austerity policies, both on international level and in Romania, generated pressure on public finances to decrease social expenses in a time when the need for social protection is increasing. The growth of economic and social inequalities, the persistent lack of jobs, demographic changes, environmental problems and technologic changes offer a new reference frame regarding social policies. The section represents a debate forum of the most important issues, risks and decisions that are faced by decision-makers, practitioners and researchers in the field of social policies. We encourage presentation proposals on a wide list of topics, such as:
- distribution of the income of the population and social inequalities;
- organizing and providing social services;
- pension systems;
- employment and unemployment;
- family and children policies;
- the health system;
- social state and minimal state;
- public social expenses in the context of the crisis in Romania and Europe;
- international financial institutions and social policies;
- access to homes and the issue of homeless people;
- workforce migration; - demographic changes and social risks.
Section 24: The Romanian Village. Session in Honour of Professor Gheorghe Şiseştean
Coordinators: Ilie Bădescu, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, badescu@insoc.ro
Floare Chipea, Universitatea din Oradea, fchipea@gmail.com
Section 25: Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship
Coordinator: Dumitru Bortun, Facultatea de Comunicare și Relatii Publice - S.N.S.P.A, bortund@yahoo.com
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is a term which was used for the first time in speciality literature in the United States, in the 1950s. Initially, this meant that corporations had a great power, as when corporate workers make decisions, they must take into consideration the values of society. The concept has been put into theory by many authors so far, the newest one being that of corporate citizenship, introduced by Crane, Matten and Moon (2008). Corporations, as public entities, are part of the social system. They have rights and obligations, although, in real terms, their rights and competencies are more extended than their obligations.
There are few academic works and books which refer to the social responsibility of corporations and other institutions from a sociologic point of view. Especially in Romania, where CSR was adopted as a Public Relations practice, the understanding of the term is limited to publicity techniques. However, more and more voices raise the issue that not only corporations, but also public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and even churches must take responsibility and adopt social responsibility practices. But are these expectations legitimate? Should we put social responsibility into theory in relation to public service, or in relation to the organizations of civic society? Regardless of the case, what should be the coverage of this concept? What is the limit between doing your own business, and doing business with social responsibility?
Our section is seeking academic works and other relevant contributions, meant to answer the questions above, taking into consideration the fact that only through the mutual effort of all interested parties which are involved in the development of a social system, can such a system grow in a lasting way.
Any other suggestions about the topic are welcome.
Section 26: Forms of Social Economy and the Construction of a “Good Society”
Coordinators: Simona Maria Stănescu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, simona_vonica@yahoo.comMarius Vasiluță-Ștefănescu, Departamentul de Sociologie, Universitatea de Vest Timisoara, mvasiluta@gmail.com
Social economy is a broad, publically-debated topic, especially because of the European Social Fund co-financed projects. The European Commission recommends member states to support social enterprises as actors of social economy, but there are no recommendations regarding the elaboration of plans in the field of social economy. In Romania, the first social economy entities had been active and the first regulations had been adopted even since the middle of the 19th century. The Romanian network for social economy representation were funding members in the creation of European social economy networks.
Although over 100 Romanian volumes on social economy have been published since 1990 (the majority being financed through European Social Fund projects) and three social economy legislation drafts were elaborated, Romania is one of the countires that has a low awareness degree concerning social economy (Chaves et al, 2012:28-9). We notice the actual tendency to turn social economy into a universal cure when it comes to the issue of insertion of vulnerable groups into the labour market.
The section suggests a debate that explores the opportunities offered by social economy. Proposals can approach topics such as:
· conceptual clarifications;
· social entrepreneruship and entrepreneurship in social economy;
· the profile of the Romanian entrepreneur;
· studies orientated towards social economy entities or specific social economy entities (associations, foundations, mutual aid organizations, credit cooperations, cooperative societies);
· methods for the improvement of social economy funding through various operational programmes.
· social economy opportunities and myths.
Other topics which may contribute to the suggested debate are welcome.
Section 27: Moral Values for a “Good Society”.
Coordinators: Vasile Morar, Universitatea București, Facultatea de Filosofie, vasilemoralis@yahoo.com, morar@fil.unibuc.ro
Ana Maria Matei, SNSPA București, Facultatea de Administrație Publică, amatei@snspa.ro
Section 28: The Good Society – Classic or New Philosophical Models?
Coordinators: Mihai Maci, Universitatea din Oradea, mihaimaci@yahoo.com
Daniela Maci, Universitatea din Oradea, elimaci@yahoo.com
Throughout time, the project of a good society represented a constant part of philosophic thinking. Whether it is about Plato’s Ideal City, about the heavenly Jerusalem of medieval thinking, about Thomas Morus’s Utopia, about the cosmopolitan world of Kant’s universal peace, or about Marx’s classes-free society, a balanced version has always been imagined – and, implicitly, an ending of the historical drama of the human finite nature Sometimes (as in the case of Plato or the one of Morus), this ideal society was described in contrast with the concrete world in which philosophers lived, and some othe times (as in the case of Hegel, or in that of classical liberalism), as a continuation of it, through the asymptote of improvement. From here onwards, there are two major attitudes in relation to its establishment: on one hand, the revolutionary one (which refers to the abolishment of the old world and the establisment of a new one), on the other hand the improving one (which refers to the selective development of the most useful characteristics, from the social point of view in the existing society). These two tendencies, which appear in a manifesto, at the end of the 18th century - with the French Revolution and the English Liberalism – marks the horizon of the social welfare for modern man. Which one of them is more suitable for the world we’re living in? Can they mutually influence wach other, or are they doomed to be irreducible? Is there a „third way”, besides these theoretical approaches, able to update the project of the good society? And, eventually, is the good society simply a good one, or (just) one that is better than one or another of the societies that existed before it?
Section 29: Education between Quality and Equality
Coordinators: Adrian Hatos, Universitatea din Oradea, adrian@hatos.ro
Gabriela Neagu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, gabi.neagu@iccv.ro
The mission, values and organization of schools in contemporary world are issues of fierce debates. Neoliberal proponents of New Public Management endorse a perspective in which schools act as service providers and human capital builders on a competitive market while policy makers and thinkers of a more leftist affiliation and welfare state defenders are looking for education primarily as producers of cohesion and equality of opportunity. This quarrel is aggravated by the turbulent time we are living in which prospects of deteriorating welfare and increasing risks are attributed to issues of market competitiveness. How should or is education reinstitutionalized in these times of uncertainty; How do schools perform in relation with their goals of assuring economic fitness to nations in the same time with social fairness at each level; are just several among the many questions that are expected to be discussed within this section.
Section 30: Organizational Culture. Current Research in the Field of Human Resources.
Coordinators: Dr. Bogdan Ficeac, bficeac@yahoo.com
Florica Ştefănescu, Universitatea din Oradea. florica.stefanescu@gmail.com
Perspectives on human resources. Concerns for studying human resources have become more numerous in the context of human resource becomes higher meanings in relation to other factors of production and the quality of human resources is an important predictor of the performance of competitive advantage in general labor productivity in particular. Along with studying the practical aspects of recruitment, selection, training and evaluation of human resources required attention a number of theoretical character studies on human resource issues, the characteristics, attitudes and behavior of human resources within the organization and outside it. "Brave new world of work" (Schrenk) is emerging as infinitely more complex than the classic it be known, understood, analyzed. This section provides all stakeholders (experts in sociology, economics, psychology, demography, education sciences, engineering sciences, medical) opportunity to present concerns in the field and participate in a debate on this topic with like-minded professionals
Section 31: Methodology. Recent Themes and Approaches in Social Research.
Coordinators: Eugen Glăvan, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, eugen@iccv.ro
Adriana Neguţ, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, adriana.negut@iccv.ro
This section aims to offer a framework for presentation and debate, regarding the most recent tendencies in the field of social research, being open to innovative ideas and approaches. Empirical research projects can be presented, as well as theoretic works, which reveal new tendencies in data presentation or analysis, methodological innovations, current interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary contributions, or original approaches to research topics. The questions to which our section will try to find an answer to are a few. To which extent well-established methods and techniques used in social research are suitable for the analysis of the actual social context, which is continuously changing? Are economic difficulties or European financing policies generating transformation within sociologists’ research interests or their orientation towards action? The section is open to all professionals who are experienced in social research, but also to Masters Degree and PhD students with different research interests, and participants are invited to contribute with their own perspective on the aspects they find relevant for the debate on the current tendencies in social research.
Section 32: History of Romanian Sociology: Romanian Publicistics
Coordinators: Cornel Constantinescu, Universitatea Pitești, mmc77ag@yahoo.com
Iancu Filipescu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calității Vieții, Academia Română, iancu.filipescu@gmail.comSection 33: The Church and Social Services
Coordinators: Laurențiu Tănase - Facultatea de Teologie, Universitatea Bucuresti, laurentiutanase@gmail.comPaul Negruț, Universitatea Emanuel, Oradea
Ionut Oprea, Universitatea din Oradea, Facultatea de Stiinte Socio-Umane
Coordinator: Veronica Dumitraşcu, Institutul de Sociologie al Academiei Române, veronica.dumitrascu@gmail.com
The section invites theoretical and empirical papers on issues related to the concept of globalization and social, political, economic effects of this phenomenon and, also, geopolitical analysis on regions, areas, organisations, relations between states etc. We are interested on theories, methods and research tools in highlighting geopolitical phenomena and processes.
Section 35: History of Romanian Sociology
Coordinator: Zoltán Rostás, Universitatea București, Facultatea de Jurnalism și Științele Comunicării, zoltan.z.rostas@gmail.com
ROUNDTABLES
1. Social Economy: Earned Experience and Opportunities
Coordinators: Elena Zamfir, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii. ezamfir1@gmail.com
Sorin Cace, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii. corsorin@mailbox.ro
Simona Stănescu, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, simona_vonica@yahoo.com
2. Regionalization
Coordinator: Ioan Mărginean, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, imargin@iccv.ro
3. Strategies for Romania to overcome the Crisis
Coordinators: Cătălin Zamfir, Institutul de Cercetare a Calităţii Vieţii, Academia Română, catalin.basarab@gmail.com
Vladimir Pasti, SNSPA ,Bucuresti
4. Opinion Polls
Coordinator: Dorel Abraham – abraham@curs.ro
5. Globalization and a „Good Society”
Coordinator: Ilie Bădescu, Institutul de Sociologie, Academia Română, badescu@insoc.ro
WORKSHOPS
1. Building synthetic indicators of wellbeing
Coordinator: Filomena Maggino, University of Florence, filomena.maggino@unifi.it
The systematic identification of elementary indicators, identified in terms of concepts and domains, allows a downright system of indicators to be constructed. In some cases, it will be necessary to define syntheses. The synthesis concerns different aspects of the system and needs analytic procedures to be defined. This workshop is open to anyone interested in indicators construction, which is nowadays a very attractive topic in the field.
2. How to Write a Scientific Paper in Order to Be Published in the Romanian Sociology Journal
Coordinator: Sergiu Bălţătescu, Universitatea din Oradea, bsergiu2@gmail.com
Aimed especially at PhD students and researchers at the beginning of their career, this workshop is dealing with the presentation of the rules for writing a scientific article in the domain of social sciences. I will use the experience gained as an editor-in-chief of the „Sociologie Românească” journal, and as a proofreader for several specialist magazines, in order to identify the most common mistakes that come when these texts are written, and also the methods of avoiding them. The presentation will be completed with real examples, and, later on, I will answer the questions of the public.