Sociologie Românească (Romanian Sociology Review)
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Perspectives on religious denominations and social crises in Romania
Full text linkThe relationship between social crises and religious cults in Romania is a topic neglected by the specialized literature. In this paper, we propose a series of analyses regarding how social crises have influenced religious life in Romania and the mechanisms by which religious cults have played a role in solving or amplifying them. We will refer to the Romanian Orthodox Church, the majority religious denomination, and some of its positions on events/stages of these social phenomena between 1990 and 2023. This text does not propose a thorough examination of these relationships but attempts to sketch perspectives of analysis in response to the following research questions: What do Romanians think about the Church's involvement in the life of society and implicitly in social crises? Why is it important to understand the position of religious actors on the evolution of social crises? How have religious denominations influenced the improvement/aggravation of some dimensions of social crises? Official stances of Religious Cults during different social crises were examined, alongside instances of informal religious practices aimed at enhancing societal conditions. In Romania, religious cults have been essential partners of the State in reducing social crises, providing support through their rich infrastructure and human resources or their symbolic position in society. However, there have also been cases in which religious cults have generated conflictual social states and tension, producing or aggravating social crises
Încadrarea mediatică a inteligenței artificiale: o analiză a framingului din publicațiile online din România
Full text linkArtificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly at the center of public discourse. Considering the current importance of AI technologies, but also the influence that the mass media has on users' adoption of new technologies and their regulation, the article aims to analyze the attitudes of online publications in Romania towards AI. By using content analysis, the attitudes and themes of 100 articles selected from the most visited Romanian news websites were examined. The results reveal a relatively balanced distribution of attitudes, with 37% of articles expressing negative sentiments, 35% positive and 28% neutral. The most frequently addressed topics include the impact on jobs, especially the negative one, regulations in the field and new functionalities. Compared to the publications in English, as can be seen from the specialized literature, the Romanian articles present a more balanced attitude towards technology, with less emphasis on the dangers. However, the analysis shows that current events can strongly influence public discourse, and approaches vary by publication. These findings suggest a diverse debate, subject to rapid changes, with important implications for AI communication, education and policy in the Romanian space
Economic Voting or Class Voting? An Analysis of the Factors Driving Incumbent Vote Choice
Full text linkThis paper examines the relationship between social class, economic perceptions, and their influence on voting behavior, particularly regarding support for incumbents. Leveraging political science research, it investigates how distinct economic experiences and challenges across social classes shape perceptions of the economy and incumbent policies, influencing electoral choices. The paper seeks to answer three critical questions: the impact of economic perceptions on voting for the incumbent, the interaction between social class and economic perceptions on voting behavior, and how social class moderates this relationship. Utilizing logistic regression models, the research highlights how social class and economic perceptions interact to influence voting decisions, contributing to the discourse on class voting's impact. The findings offer new insights into the dynamics of voting behavior, emphasizing the enduring importance of social class in political decision-making, and enriching our understanding of electoral dynamics in incumbent elections
Crime in a Changing Society: Evidence from Romania
Full text linkThe study examines five sub-periods to analyze the characteristics of criminality in the decades following the fall of communism. It considers literature-identified risks associated with criminal activity (low level of employment, high-income inequalities), and significant changes of various nature during this time (accession to the EU, financial, political, or migrant crisis, the COVID pandemic). By using official statistics on crime and the socio-economic context, the study finds an overall decline in criminality and relative stability in recent years. However, the dynamics vary across different types of crime. Violent crime was on the decline, as was theft after 2000, while drug use and car accidents were on the rise. Other types of crime, such as economic and organized crime, showed inconsistent trends. This shift in criminal behavior highlights the thesis of the continuous transformation of crime and underscores its dependence on context, having relevant implications for social sciences
The Conference Fostering Cross-disciplinary Reflections to Bridge Societal Divides (REFLECT), 21st and 23rd of October 2024
Full text linkBetween the 21st and 23rd of October 2024, the Department of Social Work, Journalism, Public Relations, and Sociology (Faculty of Social and Human Sciences) at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu hosted the XIXth edition of the international conference Fostering Cross-disciplinary Reflections to Bridge Societal Divides (REFLECT). The conference focused on recent events driving significant social change, such as armed conflicts in Europe, mass migration, and humanitarian crises affecting refugees. The event also addressed ongoing social crises exacerbated by the already fragile state of societies grappling with the pandemic's aftermath. The event attracted 60 researchers, Ph.D. candidates, and faculty members representing various national and international universities and research institutions
Exploring the Gendered Dynamics of Work and Family Life. A Secondary Descriptive Analysis in the Romanian Context
Full text linkThis paper focuses on work and family life in Romania, with particular emphasis on gender, seen as a social structure. The methodology employs the secondary descriptive analysis of data drawn from NIS, Eurostat, and the European Value Survey/World Value Survey datasets. The findings show a Romanian work landscape with slow progress in embracing work flexibility, with considerably lower percentages of remote work and part-time employment compared to EU averages. A notable gender disparity exists in the professional sector. Women exhibit a 18.8% lower participation in economic activities compared to men, a gap that increases with the number of children. Moreover, 36.5% of women, in contrast to 2.7% of men, are professionally inactive due to familial responsibilities. These results align with Nancy Fraser’s (2013) viewpoint on how the intersection between capitalism and patriarchy shapes women experiences. The lack of family-friendly work structures disproportionately impacts women, leaving them vulnerable professionally and financially. Family continues to be the most important institution for Romanians, with trends regarding age of marriage and child births mirroring previous years. While there's a gradual decrease in unpaid household and childcare activities, it is mostly due to technological progress (Popescu, 2009) while women still work “double shifts” (Hochschild, 2012). The paper’s findings highlight that cultural norms and societal pressure compels women to prioritize family responsibilities. Creating “brave new families” (Stacy, 1990) or fostering “confluent love” (Giddens, 1992) requires post-modern cooperation between partners, backed by multi-level actions (Walby, 1989) at individual, organizational and societal levels
De la criză la „permacriză” în comunicarea mediatică din România
Full text linkThe article examines how the crisis phenomenon is discussed in the Romanian public communication environment. The authors argue that in the current context, where society is marked by multiple crises, the term "permacrisis" has become relevant, describing a state of permanent crisis affecting the society at multiple levels. The authors analysed how the topic of crisis has been represented in the Romanian media, focusing on articles published online between 2017 and 2022. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study highlights a significant increase in crisis-related mentions since 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase indicates a shift in public perception and media discourse, suggesting the normalisation and acceptance of the crisis as a constant state. Four dominant themes associated with the crisis were identified in media discourse: the economic crisis, the health crisis generated by COVID-19, the domestic political crisis and the crisis generated by the war in Ukraine. These themes illustrate the different facets of the permacrisis in Romania, from the economic and social impact, to political uncertainty and the consequences of pandemics and geopolitical conflicts. The paper highlights the importance of recognising and understanding the phenomenon of permacrisis in Romanian society in order to develop more effective strategies for managing crises and building a more resilient society
Return Intentions of Romanian Migrants From the United Kingdom: An Exploratory Approach
Full text linkReturn migration is a complex phenomenon driven by a combination of individual, familial, societal, and economic factors. This study aims to discover the key reasons that limit return intentions of Romanian migrants from United Kingdom to their country of origin. Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods, semi-structured interviews with experts involved in the integration of Romanians in the United Kingdom, and an online survey among Romanian migrants, this study identifies a series of factors that determine Romanian workers’ return intentions. The results indicate that available jobs in the communities of origin in Romania where they have families, and where family solidarity networks are created, are important drivers of return migration. The need to improve government measures to stimulate the return of Romanian workers must be seen in the broader context of the functionality of families with migrant workers, considering both the positive and negative consequences of labour migration for the quality of family life, and the care provision for dependents (children and elderly people)
Dezbatere de carte Cătălin Zamfir, România în criză, Editura Academiei Române, București, 2023
Full text linkThe "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University in Iasi, the Faculty of Philosophy and Social-Political Sciences, the Department of Sociology, Social Assistance and Human Resources hosted on 31st of October 2024 a book debate on the Cătălin Zamfir volume, Romania in crisis, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2023. This article includes the discussions held on this scientific occasion
Imunizarea. Controversele vaccinurilor [Immunization: How Vaccines Became Controversial]. Prestige Publishing House, Bucharest, 2023. Stuart Blume
Full text linkIn Imunizarea. Controversele vaccinurilor [Immunization: How Vaccines Became Controversial] (original title), Stuart Blume provides an in-depth analysis of vaccines, emphasizing their role beyond medicine into social, political, and economic realms. The book traces the history of vaccine hesitancy, linking it to socio-political changes, such as neoliberalism and commercialization processes. Blume highlights the dual nature of vaccines as public health instruments and commercial products, and how this duality contributes to vaccine hesitancy. He challenges common views on vaccine disparities between developed and developing nations, and examines the evolution of public attitudes towards vaccination. The transition from public to private vaccine production and the focus on profitable vaccines, often at the expense of less developed countries' needs, are some of the key themes in this book. Blume also discusses the redefinition of health risks and diseases, influencing vaccination policies and public perceptions. The book delves into the historical and evolving nature of resistance to vaccination, ultimately arguing that vaccine hesitancy is deeply rooted in both the commercial and public health significance of vaccines