Carla Machado

Amor e violência na intimidade: da essência à construção social

In this article we intend to describe and analyze theoretical approaches on love formulated by Social Sciences, namely Psychology. Our goal is to present a general understanding about how the phenomenon has been conceptualized and analyzing how love and violence have been articulated. Considering the main contributions and limitations of each theory, we sustain that love is a culturally constructed phenomenon and that the adoption of a constructionist approach is needed to understand how violence and love are related and to deconstruct discourses that may contribute to violent behaviors.

From ''Chastity as a gift'' to ''Doing it as a sign of love'': a longitudinal analysis of the discourses on female sexuality in popular magazines in Portugal

This study aims to analyze the media discourse about feminine sexuality produced by Portuguese magazines. Texts about female sexuality published in six types of magazines between 1965 and 2006 were content analyzed. The results showed that Portuguese media’s discourse on sexuality is not only becoming more liberal but is also characterized by ambiguity and contradiction. Within a “progressive” discursive framework for sexuality, tensions and double standards for women are still noticeable. The media discourse in Portugal continues to reinforce the established gender hierarchy and inequality in heterosexual relationships and maintain traditional gender roles.

Apology and Reconciliation in Western Europe

This chapter focuses on views and experiences related to apology and reconciliation in a Western European context. We first go through the history of Western Europe and the different sources of conflict and oppression as well as different definitions and theories around apology and reconciliation. We look at the conflicting vision around the building of nation states versus rights of minorities, which is a key to understand present days’ need for apologies and reconciliation in the region. We also look into efforts of reconciliation between states that have been in war, especially France and Germany, as well as the different strategies in the region for dealing with dark chapters in recent history—for example, civil wars, dictatorships, genocide, and colonialism.

Definitions of Peace and Reconciliation in Western Europe

This chapter focuses on definitions of peace and reconciliation in a sample of ordinary people from the Western European countries of France, Germany, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. The chapter briefly reviews major conflicts in the region, discusses underlying causes of the conflicts, and considers how peace and/or reconciliation were or were not achieved following the end of the conflicts. Next, the definitions of peace and reconciliation provided by the Western European participants are reported. The definitions of peace were generally nuanced and complex with a slightly larger percentage leaning toward positive than negative peace definitions, with another group of responses questioning whether peace is achievable or largely just an ideal. The majority of reconciliation definitions portrayed it as a process, with the most prevalent subcategory equating reconciliation with compromise, negotiation, or agreement.

Perspectives on Protest in Western Europe

This chapter deals with the long and usually lamentable progression in European affairs from constant warfare of states at the will of state leaders to the eventual growth of public voices that could, with increasing effectiveness, oppose the resort to war. The earliest writing on this matter, Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, outlined almost all the major issues that are relevant to the issue of war and the fate of those who object to it. From the days of the Roman Empire, through its breakup and the emergence of the modern national state, resort to war had been an unquestioned tool of statecraft. Only with mass war and the targeting of civilian populations that now, however, had an increasing voice in the councils of government did principled or popular opposition to war begin to have an effective impact on resort to war.

Western European Perspectives on Peace and Reconciliation

This chapter discusses historical and philosophical perspectives on the Western European history of peace and reconciliation and reports data from six Western European countries, France, Germany, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

Definitions of War, Torture, and Terrorism in Western Europe

This chapter considers Western European definitions of war, torture, and terrorism. The introduction includes a brief overview of major historical events followed by recent conflicts and developments related to torture and terrorism in Western Europe. The focus then shifts to a descriptive report of our study examining personal definitions of the terms war, torture, and terrorism by participants from France, Germany, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

Views on National Security in Western Europe

It is 1518, events seem to show a Europe that has come to grips with its new security issues and put aside past internal animosities, squabbles, and outright warfare. The Russians will always be a potential threat but they are far enough away and so beset with internal strife that they do not pose a true immediate threat. The big powers in Europe have managed to put aside petty differences and have established a framework for peaceful resolution of contentious issues. The major powers agree that regardless of how it is dealt with, the focus must be on the real threat of militant Islam. They have achieved a framework of agreement and rules for dealing with this threat, the Treaty of London. This triumph of diplomacy was achieved in no small part by a woman, Ferdinand and Isabella’s daughter Catherine of Aragon.

Perspectives on Invasion in Western Europe

In order to understand the perspectives on invasion of Western Europeans today, it is important to consider the background of these perspectives. In the ancient Greek tradition, war was generally seen as the normal state of things, with peace describing transitory quiet periods within an ongoing state of conflict (Haspel 2010). Similarly, in ancient Rome, peace was perceived as the result of a victorious war and as requiring military strength to achieve and keep. Haspel (2010) notes that in both traditions, some thinkers were opposed to war, such as Plato on the Greek side and Cicero on the Roman side; both of these men viewed war as a legitimate political means but argued that it should be avoided.

Perspectives on Torture in Western Europe

Torture has been defined in many different ways throughout time. Even in recent history, the definition seems to have changed dramatically. At the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the United Nations (UN) defined torture: