Cambio. Rivista sulle Trasformazioni Sociali

Introduction. The Emerging Intangible Globe Age

2020-12-16T12:13:49+00:00

Introduction to the Monographic Section

Social Discontinuity and Systems Thinking. Cultural differentiation and social integration in times of globalization

2020-12-16T12:14:03+00:00

Given the obsolescence of a linear, homeostatic and reductionist worldview unable to face current social discontinuity, the laceration of a stable universe of expectations marking world scenarios, this paper argues the heuristic power of System Theory in understanding and managing, by emergence, circular causation between system and environmental and micro-macro co-essentiality conceptual frameworks, social integration crisis in our culturally differentiated and globalized western modern societies. The discussion on normative multiculturalism validity (in particular neo-communitarian multiculturalism) and, therefore, on sufficiency of procedural foundations as device of cultural difference integration and social cohesion is controversial and far from reaching a turning point. To get out of this impasse and support policymaking processes able to face social integration crisis, the paper argues to bring the debate on complexity epistemological plan. Systems Thiking could give new lymph to current debate, hooking it to a safer ground, made so by new acquisitions on systems' working and evolution mechanism. So, Complexity language intervenes fruitfully to justify the caution with which normative multiculturalism is believed that should be considered, by anchoring this caution to configuration of a society projected to dangerously visit that range of maximum differentiation among its components which should be avoided being identified as the range of disorder and ungovernability. Not only, in the emergence logic, integration is just one of the many possibilities to which self-organization process being initiated by processes of signifying of recognition policies is open, but sociologically there are even theoretical reasons to believe that in itself the same functionalist device is such as to make this possibility little probable and does not lead where it promises. How to reduce complexity' how to fill up this relationality deficit that normative multiculturalism institutes and avoid the risk of a society unable to regain order with coherence? The Complexity framework is where the whole debate must be kept. Here, the integration proposal of pluralism and interculturalism can gain greater meaning, avoiding the risks of mono-culturalism, on the one hand, and social balkanization, on the other hand.

Corporate social responsibility and challenges for corporate sustainability in first part of the 21st century

2020-12-16T12:14:06+00:00

The term corporate sustainability represents a crucial part of the concept of sustainable development. The main goal of the companies, which adopted corporate sustainability practice is to fulfil a sustainable development agenda and brings a balanced approach to economic and social progress and environmental management. The purpose of the article is to highlight the importance and issues of corporate sustainability in the context of awareness and approaches to social responsibility in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The paper aims to make order in the plurality of definitions of concept «corporate sustainability» and its practical understanding in terms of «corporate social responsibility». It does so through a literature review and the analysis of different attempts of definition. It identifies the main challenges these concepts bring with them.

China soft power and cultural diplomacy. The educational engagement in Africa

2020-12-16T12:13:59+00:00

The concept of soft power has recently become more integrated in China’s diplomatic strategy and foreign policy: this work discusses the “Soft Power with Chinese characteristics” and is polarized on the application in African countries. The realm of higher education represents the focus of China’s most systematically planned soft power policy and cultural diplomacy; it is most evident in Africa where Beijing has committed to contributing to the development of human resources. The paper aims to examine the China’s use of the soft power and cultural diplomacy and, specifically, the investment in education and human resource development in Africa. It discusses the main aspects of China’s education aid ranging from: (1) Confucius Institutes (C.I.), which are providing language and culture-related training in host countries; (2) longer term scholarships and short-term training (3) school construction and stand-alone education projects and, more in general, the development of capacity building for the structural transformation C.I. appears similar to other cultural institutes then, in order to better understand the importance of this soft power instrument, the inter-related dimensions of a network communication approach have been examined. China claims partnership is at the heart of its higher education cooperation with Africa and, if this seems most obvious in the Confucius Institute, several of other modalities rely upon a Chinese partner to deliver staffing, local or overseas training, and/or administration. From this point of view, based on bilateral consultations and dialogs on equal footing, the China-Africa educational exchange and cooperation seems to satisfy the demands of Africa in educational development.

Microcredit and Development: a comparative analysis between Brazilian and Italian experiences

2020-12-16T12:14:10+00:00

Under favorable conditions, credit can improve the quality of life by financing essential assets and services, such as housing and education, also by fostering entrepreneurship. Although finance inclusion can widen social and economic opportunities, the successful usage of microcredit depends on the costs (rates of interests) and on the methodology applied to grant credit. Hence, through a bibliographic review, the paper presents a comparative analysis of three remarkable experiences on microfinance. Firstly, the Brazilian Community Development Banks (CDB), inspired by the Grameen Bank and devoted to reaching the poor of the poor. Secondly, the programs applied by some Public Development Banks (PDB) in Brazil to foster entrepreneurship through microcredit. Third, the Italian Credit Cooperatives (BCC - Banche di Credito Cooperativo), essential in the provision of credit for small enterprises and households. Despite their peculiarities, there are some similarities in their governance and methodologies applied to grant credit. The local dimension, the relationship lending to capture soft information for risk analysis, and the purpose of serving the community providing financial services instead of generating and distributing profits are standard features. These experiences could inspire a proposal for microfinance expansion, based on the ground principles of mutuality, solidarity, cooperation, and localism.

Philosophical re-thinking of international tax law: an analysis of harmful tax competition

2020-12-16T12:14:13+00:00

This study aims to re-think the harmful tax competition philosophically and through which to open a new route for further studies. With this aim, harmful tax competition is examined from epistemological, theoretical and methodological perspectives. As a result of this study, it is contended that the OECD failed to justify the assumption that tax competition under specified circumstances is regarded as “harmful” around the world in the same way and it harms global welfare. By doing this, the OECD does not take into account that the meaning of harmful tax competition can be constructed differently by different societies. In fact, based on the different meanings of construction, the same kind of tax competition may be regarded as “beneficial” by some states and “harmful” by others. Therefore, to understand the challenges on the definition of harmful tax competition and solve them, more philosophical analysis is needed.

Understanding halal food production and consumption in 'the West'. Beyond dominant narratives

2020-12-16T12:13:56+00:00

In recent decades, the increasing visibility of halal food has become highly emotive and controversial, with halal meat in particular being seen as an indicator of the growing presence of Islam and what are seen to be 'barbaric' Muslim food practices. In this paper, I move beyond these dominant narratives to demonstrate how, as the UK halal market has expanded, and the range of halal food options has increased, Muslim consumers have been compelled to justify their halal food choices in ever more complex ways. Within the sociolog y of food literature, the proliferation of food choice often draws on the notion of informalisation to illustrate the dissolution of structures governing food production and consumption. Here, drawing on insights from Eliasian sociology, I present a more compelling account of informalisation, not only to move beyond the notion of halal as a 'barbaric' practice, but to illustrate that Muslim and non-Muslim consumers have very similar concerns and anxieties about food production and consumption.

Civilizzazione, globalizzazione e le differenze che fanno la differenza. In onore e memoria di Johan “Joop” Goudsblom

2020-12-16T12:13:46+00:00

Un saggio in onore di Johan Goudsblom

Solidarietà performativa. Critica sociale del capitalismo e nuovi soggetti della partecipazione.

2020-12-16T12:14:17+00:00

The essay develops some lines of interpretation of qualitative research sources related to social criticism experiences active in the Umbrian territory. The analysis of the sources will be intertwined to the formulation of a hypothesis on the thematic node of subjectivity. This hypothesis will be developed in a twofold direction: in terms of processes of subjectification and redefinition of individual identity within the social relations analyzed; in terms of social identity and collective belonging, going so far as to argue that the critical tension to capitalism carried out by the subjects under consideration can be read primarily as social criticism. The overall intention of this paper is to try to provide some basic references in support of the hypothesis that the critique of capitalism today can be understood also and above all in terms of processes of subjectification attributable to innovative forms of social participation. In other words, the critical aim of the exemplary sociality examined can be declined through a form of criticism that we could define as implicit, relating to a redefinition of the social bond rather than to a militant and generalized political dimension. This is an implicit criticism of capitalism, characterized in purely social terms: it can be read as a creative and practical response to the fragmentation of social solidarity.

On politics, emotional cultures and social change in times of crisis: an interview with Randall Collins

2020-12-16T12:13:42+00:00

This interview was conducted between the Spring and the Summer 2020 by means of an interactive email exchange. Our conversation with Randall Collins had been planned a few months before the global pandemic as part of ongoing conversations inspired by the creation of an interdisciplinary study group on emotions at the University of Florence, and was eventually boosted by some of the recent developments in global politics and in the pandemic itself. The starting point, is Collins’ original ability to reconcile—through his emotion-based theoretical model (2004)—two significant and allegedly clashing aspects of social life: conflict and solidarity. We then move on to discuss the ways in which current theories of emotions can be reconsidered in light of recent emerging phenomena (such as right-wing populism and nationalism) at an international level. In addition, we introduce the theme of the global health emergency and discuss the role of different emotional cultures in dealing with the pandemic, in Italy and the USA. Finally, we consider whether or not it is possible to talk about ethics of emotions, i.e. whether some emotions can be interpreted as ‘more ethically relevant’ than others within the context of current social and political scenarios.

L’identità degradata. Note sul dispositivo teorico di Stigma.

2020-12-16T12:13:53+00:00

Re-Reading the Classics sul noto testo di Goffman.

Sociologia della vita famigliare. Soggetti, contesti e nuove prospettive, di Caterina Satta, Sveva Magaraggia, Ilenya Camozzi.

2020-12-16T12:13:39+00:00

Review of Sociologia della vita famigliare. Soggetti, contesti e nuove prospettive by Caterina Satta, Sveva Magaraggia, Ilenya Camozzi

Dalla parte dei rifiuti. La governance, l’economia, la società, lo storytelling e i trafficanti, di Antonio Pergolizzi

2020-12-16T12:13:37+00:00

A Review of Dalla parte dei rifiuti. La governance, l’economia, la società, lo storytelling e i trafficanti, by Antonio Pergolizzi

Profiles

2020-12-16T12:13:35+00:00

Profiles