Francisco José Francés García

Parejas Mixtas de europeos en España: Integración, satisfacción y expectativas de futuro

Mixed marriages are more and more frequently object of interest. In fact, due to the increase in the number of mixed marriages, they are one of the most visible aspects of multiculturalism in Spain. This article takes into consideration the aspects of integration, overall satisfaction with life and future plans, and puts them in relation to mixed marriages. Starting from and adaption of the Berrys model, we use data from the EIMSS survey and Structural Equation Models (SEM) on the aspects mentioned, in order to show the central value of mixed couples to explain them.

Elementos para el estudio de la estratificación social en las sociedades avanzadas: estrategias operativas

Empirical study of social position in advanced societies supposes a research challenge, because fast transformations in the structure and new patterns of social mobility, make it advisable to incorporate missing variables in the study of the traditional social structure. The paper proposes four different operative strategies for the analysis of social stratification, focusing approaches of diverse origin and tradition, and seeking to synthesize efforts developed up to now.

El laberinto de la participación juvenil: estrategias de implicación ciudadana en la juventud

The study of youth participation is a challenge, because the collective practices of young people are contextualized within the framework of adult citizen participation, but submitting own elements and potentials of youth condition. This article attempts to assume the link between reproduction of social order and production of new orders in the social practices of youth, questioning theoretical approaches that pose a public disaffection of contemporary youth. So we will expose the limitations and dysfunctions of the current participatory model and propose elements that shape the necessary conditions for citizen involvement of young people, using three basic dimensions of participatory processes: inclusiveness, intensity and influence.

Youth and Expectations on Democracy in Spain: the Role of Individual Human Values Structure of Young People in Dimension of Democracy

Democracy is a form of social organization based on popular sovereignty. The rise of democracy has run in parallel to economic growth in society and this system of government has been increasingly adopted in other countries (Inglehart, 2005). The same concept has been defined over time in different ways according to their historical characteristics. According to Kluckhohn (1958), humans react to external stimuli as well as to their own interpretations of stimuli as per a cognitive framework defined by the cul-ture in which the individual is inserted. This research is aimed at learning how values influence the concept that young Spaniards have of democracy and determine how these affect each dimension, factor or element in which the study of this type of social organization can be divided. In order to carry out this research we are using data from the sixth round of the European Social Survey (ESS) conducted in 2012. The sample consists of two groups, one with individuals aged 18 to 30 and a second group with people over 30 years of age. Results indicate that democracy —and its elements— is not an ideal concept, or it should not be seen as an invariable, objective concept, external to citizens. It is rather an adaptive and evolving instrument, consubstantial to each individual’s vital experience and society’s in its whole in which values have a joint function between the macro and the micro-social groups.

Citizen participation in Europe: A comparative analysis from the sociopolitical contexts

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under Grant number CSO2012-38942.

Crisis política y juventud en España: el declive del bipartidismo electoral

This paper shows the increasing trend of Spanish young people towards non-conventional mechanisms of political expression, in a crisis context which has reduced its reliance on traditional political actors. As an alternative to bipartisanship, political participation moves towards increased interest and attention to new players, such as emergent political parties. Using a covariance structural model, factors such as political activism, awareness and understanding of country problems, and trust in the political system, are explored in order to explain an electoral behavior that is undergoing deep changes.