Resisting Neoliberalism from within the Academy: Subversion through an Activist Pedagogy

Teaching and learning in the neoliberal academy means that educators in non-market-oriented departments, such as social work, face several constraints and challenges when trying to implement an anti-oppressive, social justice focused curriculum. This article considers challenges that can arise with an introductory social work course in the current context of neoliberalism, especially when open to both social work and non-social work students. With a particular focus on larger class sizes, the use of precarious labour and the depoliticization of the classroom, the authors use an inductive, reflective approach to analyse observations made about shifts in the behaviour and engagement of students in the course. The authors surmise possible explanations for these shifts, considering changes made to the substantive content and pedagogical practices of the course. Through this process the authors propose that these changes represent an ‘activist pedagogy’ which may offer potential for anti-oppressive education with students both inside and outside social work. As such, the authors propose ‘activist pedagogy’ as a possible way to resist and subvert the neoliberal educational paradigm and to better integrate the principles and practices of social justice and anti-oppressive social work into the classroom.     

Contemporary Research on Social Movements and Protest in Latin America: Promoting Democracy, Resisting Neoliberalism, and Many Themes in between

This essay outlines how research on Latin American social movements has evolved since the late 1980s. Emphasis is given to two topics. First, the essay examines how Latin American social movement research has historically been oriented toward social movement theories that emerged out of the study of European movements and, to a lesser extent, movements in the United States. At the same time, it discusses how the unique historical and contextual factors of Latin American societies have repeatedly been found to defy adequate explanation by these theories. Second, the essay outlines five major themes that characterize the Latin American social movement literature: the dynamics of movements in relation to transitions to democracy, and to neo-liberal economic reforms, as well as transnational movement dynamics, indigenous movements, and women's movements.     

Contemporary Youth and Youth Culture in Japan

Abstract  This paper begins with a profile of Japanese youth which compares them statistically and sociologically with those of other nations. Next, I attempt to differentiate between "adolescent" and "youth," and explain the adolescent as a consequence of industrial society. I also try to divide youth culture into three types: partial culture, sub-culture. and counter- culture. Finally, I discuss the history of Japanese youth culture, primarily since the coming of the industrial age after World War 11. As examples of adolescent cultures, I refer to "Taiyo-zoku." "Zenkyoto," "Hippie," "New Young," and "Shin-jinrui." Among these, "Zenkyoto" and "Hippie" are important as counter-cultures; they reject the prevailing society and actively seek a new post-industrial society. Adolescent sub-culture. on the other hand, has dwindled since the decline of the "Zen- kyoto" around 1970. Since 1980, Japanese youth can be grouped into three main categories. The majority enjoy affluence and consumer goods, like the "Crystal-zoku," who are obsessed with famous brands. They are in the partial culture, and are oriented to super-industrial society. The second group is made up of those who have unique adolescent cultures. like the "Shin-jinrui," who are sensuous and highly responsive to information. They are in the sub-culture, and are oriented to the modified industrial society. Minority groups who take action to protect their interests and human rights, like ecological groups derived from the counter-culture movement, comprise the third category. They are in the counter-culture, and are oriented to post-industrial society.     

Participation in LGBTQ Organizations in Colombia: Motivations and Impacts

Studies on sexual minorities have shown the positive impact of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ) community on the well-being of individuals. Few studies, however, have been interested in the role that LGBTQ organizations specifically play. Using a qualitative approach, this article examines individuals’ motivations to participate in LGBTQ organizations and how they think such participation impacts their lives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 self-identified LGBTQ adults living in the Andean region of Colombia. Thematic analysis with inductive coding was used, and six themes were identified. Within these, two findings are particularly relevant to the existing literature. First, organizations play an important role as educational spaces where individuals can learn about their sexual identity. Second, organizations can also impact families of origin by promoting a better understanding and acceptance of participants’ sexual identity, and by promoting solidarity with LGBTQ community members.     

乡村社会治理中的有效参与:青年参与的动力系统研究

青年一代应当在乡村社会治理中发挥更大作用,有关青年如何参与乡村社会治理并实现有效参与成为研究热点。对青年参与乡村社会治理的实证研究发现,年龄问题束缚了青年参与乡村社会治理的行为动力;青年对社会保障水平、公民间信任水平、社会公平公正水平的评价会对青年参与乡村社会治理的行为动力产生赋能效应;接受过高等教育是当代青年的优势之一,对其参与乡村社会治理的行为动力具有一定的促进意义,但若受到生活方面问题的干扰,参与动力则会大幅减弱。要建构青年有效参与乡村社会治理的动力系统,各类社会组织应形成扎根乡村的宣传合力、创新线上+线下融合化参与方式、完善青年人才引进及配套机制、确保青年社保及公共服务的人性化与持续化供给。     

Introduction: Canadian Anthropology in an International Context

L'anthropologie est sur le point de vivre un renouvellement sans precedent de personnel dans les départements des différentes universités canadiennes. Les articles de ce numéro spécial passent en revue les thèmes majeurs de l'anthropologie au Canada durant la dernière décennie: la recherche sur les Premieres Nations, un sujet qui a jeté les fondements de l'anthropologie canadienne anglophone; les changements dans la recherche ethnographique, illustrés par l'exemple de Terre-Neuve; le travail, la mondialisation et la culture locale; quelques difficultés pratiques de la recherche dans le domaine de la justice sociale; et les questions soulevées par la création d'une perspective environnementale dans l'anthropologie médicale. L'examen de chaque thème démontre que, malgré l“élan implacable” vers l'nterprétation étroite qui afflige certaines des sciences sociales au Canada depuis quelque temps, la génération sortante d'anthropologues a maintenu une approche relativement “holistique” envers leur domaine. Ils ont pu garder cette approche en faisant face aux dilemmes inhèrents à la recherche qualitative locale sur des questions nationales ou mondiales et en redèfinissant la portée de l'interprétation anthropologique. Quoique les thèmes développés relèvent surtout de l'anthropologie anglophone au Canada, notre introduction affirme que l'on peut déceler les mêmes thèmes dans l'anthropologie francophone. Anthropology in Canada is about to undergo an unprecedented turnover in department personnel and by way of review, this special issue presents articles on major themes in anthropology in Canada during the last decade. They include First Nations research, a foundational subject for anglophone anthropology in Canada; the changing face of ethnographic research, with Newfoundland as an example; work, globalization and local culture; some practical difficulties of research in the field of social justice; and issues inherent in creating an environmental perspective within medical anthropology. When each theme is examined it becomes apparent that in spite of a “relentless drive” toward narrowness of interpretation that has afflicted some social sciences in Canada, the departing generation of anthropologists has maintained a relatively open, “holistic” approach to their subject matter. They have done so by confronting dilemmas inherent in undertaking locale-based qualitative research on issues of national or global scale and redefining the scope of anthropological interpretation. While the subject matter developed here is confined to anglophone anthropology in Canada, this introduction argues that its counterpart can be found in francophone anthropology as well.     

Cultural Organizations and the State: Art and State Support in Contemporary Britain

Only a small proportion of research in the sociological field of arts and culture is on the state and its effects. Literature which touches on this topic often comes from the policy arena and the wide variety of disciplines interested in public policy. Research tends to focus on two key themes: funding and censorship. But the effects of state actions are much broader. Moreover, state support is often set in opposition to the market, but markets and state systems usually exist together. It is ironic that the effects of the state on cultural organizations are increasingly studied at just this point in time, when states are scaling back their involvement and privatization is coming to the fore. Focusing on cultural organizations usually associated with the fine arts (museums and performing arts organizations), I illustrate some of these themes with a discussion of recent events in the UK.     

Formal Voluntary Organizations: Participation, Correlates, and Interrelationships

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the literature on formal voluntay organizations in the urban community. The theoretical approaches that guided much of the research in this area are identifid as social structural, social psychological, and organizational. Basic findings suggest that formal participation, including church membership, is a characteristic of urban life. Population characteristics, attitudes, informal interaction, and community involvement are all related to formal membership. Moreover, formal organizations attempt to integrate individuals with the larger community, and such groups, in urbanizing areas, facilitate modernization.     

The Myth of Management: Direction and Failure in Contemporary Organizations

Life in organizations and society appears tomany social commentators as increasingly more demandingand insensitive to the needs of people. In this paper,the Myth of Management is explored to investigate some of the key beliefs and images throughwhich contemporary management is practiced. Myth, inthis context, is understood as consisting of beliefs andvalues which serves to provide meaning for human action. The adoption of a particular mythicframe is argued to direct the management oforganizations to particular ends and purposes. Centralto a Myth of Management are the doctrines of SocialDarwinism and Function Rationality, and these are brieflyevaluated in their impact on organizational life. Anarchetypal approach, with particular reference to thearchetype of the hero, is employed to explore the depth dimensions which underpin the formulationand exercise of the Myth of Management. The conclusionreached is that the myth of management exacts a criticalcost on people and society which can only be addressed through a reflectiveconsciousness.     

Professional Development in the Contemporary Educational Context: Encouraging Practice Wisdom

Preparing social work students to be effective practitioners is a complex and challenging task undertaken in a dynamic environment both in terms of the field of social work and the higher education sector. There have been recommendations that self knowledge, empirical knowledge, theoretical knowledge and procedural knowledge are the keys to high standards of social work practice. This paper suggests that the concept of practice wisdom is a useful focus for integrating these different aspects of informed practice and for focusing educational programmes for social work. As practice wisdom is more about process than possessed characteristics then there are important motivational and value-based considerations in developing wise practitioners. This discussion considers motivational and personal narrative aspects of practice wisdom so that it can be integrated into social work teaching.     

古罗马共和时期的青少年教育及当代启示

共和时期古罗马青少年教育的实践,虽然时代久远,但是探究他们的经验和做法仍可为今天提供许多有益的启示和借鉴。在爱国主义精神培养方面,它强调国家、社会、学校和家庭的有机统一;在勤劳节俭的生活教育方面,它注重父母的言传身教;在全面和谐发展的理性教育方面,它突出法制教育,并注重与社会实际的相结合;在创新学校教育方面,它注重外来先进教育理念与本民族优秀传统文化之间的融合。共和时期古罗马青少年教育的上述特征可以与当今中国的时代特点相结合,为我们创新教育模式提供一条新路径。     

LGBTQ Activist Organizations as ‘Respectably Queer’ in India: Contesting a Western View

This study contests the distinction of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) organizations suggested by earlier scholars as ‘respectable’ — i.e. normalizing, professionalizing and conforming to the dominant cultural and institutional patterns — and ‘queer’, meaning challenging the cultural and institutional forces that ‘normalize and commodify differences’. Using Bernstein's model of identity deployment, it is found problematic to distinguish LGBTQ organizations this way because when the actions of LGBTQ organizations are more complex to describe, it is not warranted to conflate identity goals with identity strategies — whether normalizing (respectable) or differentiating (queer). To examine these concerns, a qualitative inquiry was used to study five LGBTQ organizations in India where the intersections of post‐colonial ethnicity, gender, social class and sexuality offer an intriguing context through which to study queer activism. Based on the findings, it is argued from a post‐colonial perspective that when the socio‐cultural and historical existence of non‐homonormative queer communities and practices is strong, LGBTQ organizations challenge the heteronormative and/or other forms of domination to become ‘queer’. But they may simultaneously become ‘respectable′ by conforming to the diversity politics of non‐profit business, donors, and social movement organizations they seek support from, and turn out as ‘respectably queer’.     

青少年事务发展与青年组织的政治合法性——社会转型期共青团发展战略的一个社会学视角

市场化改革从根本上改变了当代中国青少年发展的路径,也赋予了青少年事务发展以诸多时代特色.传统的共青团工作思路是在计划体制下形成的,它已经很难适应当下及未来市场社会青少年事务发展的需要.从规范性需要出发,确立青少年事务的发展战略,并采取切实有效的行动,是共青团组织有效协助政府管理青少年事务的关键.     

当代青年媒介素养教育及回归

媒介信息包围是影响当代青年次文化的重要因素。它促进着青年世界观和深层价值观的形塑，并对多元文化教育产生重大影响。以风靡全国的“电视秀”为代表的通俗文化的崛起，更使媒介素养教育为学界、政界所关注。在循规蹈矩的学校教育和极具颠覆的媒介通俗文化的夹裹中，青年媒介素养教育理性的价值取向和感性的实践活动显得愈加迫切和重要。     

Supporting and Sustaining Grassroots Youth Organizations: The Case of New Detroit

Grassroots organizations have a central place in service provision within many urban communities, particularly as they work with young people. Enhancing the potential of youth serving organizations is vital as many of these small groups lack infrastructure and resources. One organization has gone beyond grant making to organizations to include providing technical assistance, then moving to a model of capacity building to improve their ability to fulfill their mission. This paper describes the efforts of New Detroit to improve the infrastructure of youth serving grassroots organizations through a multi-faceted model and the outcomes evidenced from the first cohort. In addition we explore the contradictions inherent in working with small groups. How do you improve effectiveness without destroying the “homegrown” character these groups possess? The model presented here shows the value of empowering small grassroots groups to build capacity.     

Linguistic Acculturation and Context on Self-Esteem: Hispanic Youth Between Cultures

Immigrant adolescents must negotiate two cultures: the host culture and their native culture. This study explored how self-esteem is moderated by the effect of linguistic acculturation and context. An ordinary least-squares regression model, controlling for fixed effects, produced results supporting the hypothesis that linguistic acculturation moderates the effect of context on self-esteem. The self-esteem of Hispanic adolescents who were less linguistically acculturated was found to be more favorable when with family than with friends and the reverse was found for the more linguistically acculturated participants. Adolescents in the middle of the linguistic acculturation process had the widest variance in self-esteem between times they were with their families and times in other contexts; they experienced more positive self-esteem with anyone but family. Findings underscore the need to better understand the complex process of linguistic acculturation and its effects on self-esteem. This research also demonstrates the practical utility of a fixed-effects model for reducing bias in cross-cultural research.