Second special issue on attitudes, values and social structures in European countries
Authors: Jorge Vala, Anlia Torres
Page: 93-93
DOI: 110.1386/pjss.5.2.93_2
Social classes and values in Europe
Authors: João Ferreira de Almeida, Fernando Luís Machado, António Firmino da Costa
Page: 95-117
DOI: 10.1386/pjss.5.2.95_1
Abstract
Exploiting the analytical potential of the European Social Survey data, this text presents a set of theoretical assumptions and empirical findings concerning class structures, patterns of values and attitudes and the relationship between them. In the first section, a model of analysis is outlined, which relates social dimensions (in this case, classes) with cultural dimensions (in this case, values), both at the individual level and structural level. The second section compares the class composition of the various participating countries and pinpoints common trends and regional specificities. In the third and largest section, several indicators of ideological and political attitudes and electoral practices, as well as Shalom Schwartz’s scale of human values, are analyzed in their relationship with the class position of the interviewees.
Racial prejudice, threat perception and opposition to immigration: A comparative analysis
Authors: Jorge Vala, Ccero Pereira, Alice Ramos
Page: 119-140
DOI: 10.1386/pjss.5.2.119_1
Abstract
This paper analyzes the opposition to immigration, comparing the European Union as a whole and Portugal, United Kingdom, France and Germany. The first hypvothesis that was examined posits that the perception of economic, security and cultural threats are significant predictors of the orientation towards immigration. The second hypothesis states that racial prejudice is an important predictor of threat perception. Results show that, globally, attitudes towards immigration in EU are more close to openness than they are to closure. As predicted, cultural, economic and security threats are significantly associated with the opposition to immigration. These results are stable across compared countries. Moreover results show that in the EU as a whole political conservatism and racial prejudice are the main predictors of the perception of threat in the economic, security and cultural domains. These same results were obtained in France, Germany and United Kingdom. Except in the case of security threat, also in Portugal prejudice is an important predictor of threat perception. These results are discussed in the context of the immigration integration policies.
Globalization and national identity: Monitoring Greek culture today
Authors: Yannis Voulgaris
Page: 141-153
DOI: 10.1386/pjss.5.2.141_1
Abstract
Among the ESS countries Greece occupies a particular place as it is characterized by a marked orientation towards conservative values, which are weaved around the concept of national and religious homogeneity. This article, firstly, substantiates this particularity through the use of quantitative tools. Then, it focuses on the apparent contradiction between an increasingly open and democratic society on one hand, and the retreat to the primordial elements of national identity, on the other. Trying to interpret this issue, the article examines some of the actual social, political and cultural processes. With regard to the later, the article proposes the idea of a cultural conservatism, which is rooted in the core of the Greek national identity as a by-product of the historical process of its formation during the long XIX century. This core cultural conservatism is materializing from time to time depending on the historical context. Today, this context is provided by the dialectic between globalization and the national identity, as well as the disjunction between State and Nation that this dialectic produces.
Portuguese Journal of Social Science 