Rivalry, Sympathy and Social Structure in an Alpine Valley
272pages
10 heures de lecture
Utilizing participant observation and interviews with older informants, the author examines the impact of recent technological and institutional changes on local communities. The study explores themes such as nationalism, regionalism, and anti-clericalism, offering insights into how these factors shape societal responses. Additionally, it contributes to the theoretical discourse on the applicability of structuralist anthropology within European contexts, enriching the understanding of contemporary social dynamics.
In recent years, a consensus among European policy specialists has emerged regarding the extended family's crucial role in social security provision. If this perspective is genuine and not merely a strategy to cut state welfare budgets, it is essential for government officials and social scientists to comprehend the dynamics of familial support and the conditions under which aid may be withheld. The editors and contributors present a comprehensive three-volume collection of historical, sociological, and ethnographic data, exploring contemporary kin relationships across Europe, their strengths and weaknesses, and the influence of state policies. Historical and comparative analyses reveal the effects of political and economic changes, examining how factors like marriage, cohabitation, divorce rates, declining fertility, and aging populations interact with kinship networks. The gathered studies highlight the varying models of family across different European regions and illustrate how new partnership forms, decreasing birth rates, and societal aging are reshaping family structures and their roles in social security. The third volume connects European kinship network analysis with ethnographic and historical insights, addressing current challenges in theoretical and policy discussions.
