Social capital and cognitive attainment

We review the different meanings that researchers have given to theconcept of social capital, differentiate four types – bridging, bonding,linking, and overheads –, and discuss their different functions as public,club, and common goods.For each form of social capital we distinguish its productivity (acollective characteristic) from the factors that account for individual’sdifferential access to its returns, and propose alternative ways formeasuring each.We show the utility of our theoretical and measuring approach byanalyzing the impact of the each form of social capital on 15 year-oldstudents’ cognitive attainment across OECD countries, using 2006 PISAdata.The results show that students’ cognitive attainments are a direct functionof the richness or productivity of each form of social capital and ofstudents’ degree of access to each.

Discourse, knowledge, power and politics: towards critical epistemic discourse analysis

Although both are fundamental terms in the humanities and social sciences, discourse and knowledge have seldom been explicitly related, and even less so in critical discourse studies. After a brief summary of what we know about these relationships in linguistics, psychology, epistemology and the social sciences, with special emphasis on the role of knowledge in the formation of mental models as a basis for discourse, I examine in more detail how a critical study of discourse and knowledge may be articulated in critical discourse studies. Thus, several areas of critical epistemic discourse analysis are identified, and then applied in a study of Tony Blair’s Iraq speech on March 18, 2003, in which he sought to legitimatize his decision to go to war in Iraq with George Bush. The analysis shows the various modes of how knowledge is managed and manipulated of all levels of discourse of this speech.

Gendered networks and Mexican migration

In this paper, we investigate how the gendered origin of migrant networks (i.e. matrilineal vs. patrilineal) is associated with aspirations to migrate and subsequent migration behavior. Using longitudinal data from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS), we follow 3,923 married couples across 139 municipalities over the 2002-2005 period. We find that the networks of both the individual and her/his spouse are associated with aspiring to migrate to the United States. However, one’s own network matters most (i.e. matrilineal networks for women and patrilineal networks for men). On the other hand, in terms of behavior, only matrilineal networks predict a subsequent move to the U.S. for men and women/couples, who are assessed jointly. These findings suggest that our understanding of the role of migrant networks in perpetuating male-centered, labor migration does not necessarily translate once a union has formed. We make the case that future work would do well to account for not only the presence and composition of networks, but also their origin, which in certain circumstances may be the most relevant factor.

The externalisation of the asylum function in the European Union

This paper aims to identify and assess the main items in the strategy followed by the EU and its member states on the externalisation of their asylum function. First, it analyses the European harmonisation of the return to safe third countries and to countries of first asylum, which is carried out by means of readmission agreements. Second, it refers to the strategies defined by the Hague and the Stockholm programs concerning the External Aspects of the European Union Asylum Policy, on the detention centres for illegal immigrants abroad, and on the proposals for delocalisation of asylum applications processing centres beyond the EU borders. Finally, this paper considers whether the strategy of externalisation of the function of asylum sometimes lacks legitimacy, and to what extent there is a fair balance between the interests of the states and the protection of the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

Reconciling context and contact with immigrants effects: an examination of the Catalan case

Contact theory and threat group theory offer contradictory hypotheses regarding the effect of contact with immigrants. Despite recent efforts to test the validity of both approaches, we still lack a definitive conclusion. This article integrates both approaches and tests the effect of contact towards immigrants and how this changes when different contexts are considered. Mainly, we investigate the effect of the economic environment and the immigrant group size on modifying attitudes toward immigration. The hypotheses, which are tested in Catalonia, show that contact with immigrants reduce negative attitudes towards immigration, especially friendship and family contact. However, mixed results are reported regarding the effect of economic environment and immigrant group size. Whereas the former modifies positively the effect of workplace contact, the latter has no effect. Findings have implications for the impact of context when dealing with the impact of contact on attitudes towards immigration.

Immigration controls and the erosion of popular sovereignty

The idea that immigration controls in Western developed states are a response to popular pressure is axiomatic in the academic literature on migration. In the academic literature and in policy circles it is also commonplace to hear that migration is eroding the sovereignty of states. This article challenges both of these ideas. We argue that both of these ideas overlook or ignore the erosion of popular sovereignty from within states. We argue that engaging with, rather than evading, public debate on migration can potentially help to reinvigorate popular sovereignty.

"¡Mezquita No!: the origins of mosque opposition in Spain

This paper examines why mosque opposition has been more frequent in Catalonia than in other Spanish regions. A comparison is conducted between the metropolitan areas of Barcelona, where opposition has been most prevalent, and Madrid, where it has been strikingly absent. A relational approach is employed to highlight the factors in Barcelona that have complicated the reception of mosques and the populations they serve. These factors include pronounced socio-spatial divisions and a lack of confidence in the state's commitment to managing the challenges that accompany immigration. The prevalence of these factors in Barcelona has resulted in the integration of mosque debates into more general struggles over urban privilege and state recognition, explaining the high degree of opposition. These findings highlight the importance of studying conflicts related to religious and cultural diversification in context, as such conflicts are inextricably linked to the lived spaces and local structures in which they develop.

El Corpus de l'IULA: etiquetaris

El projecte central que es duu a terme a l'Institut Universitari de Lingüística Aplicada (IULA) de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra és el corpus de Llenguatges especialitzats. En el marc d'aquest projecte —que implica cinc dominis d'especialitat (dret, economia, informàtica, medi ambient i medicina) i cinc llengües (català, castellà, francès, anglès i alemany)— s'han desenvolupat dos etiquetaris per a la llengua catalana i castellana. Amb el desenvolupament d'aquests etiquetaris es pretén facilitar l'etapa del processament lingüístic del corpus. En aquest paper es discuteixen, d'una banda, alguns aspectes teòrics relatius a la construcció d'etiquetaris i, de l'altra, es presenten els dos etiquetaris que s'han elaborat a l'IULA.

Els efectes de la transmissió intergeneracional de la llengua, l'escolarització i la integració lingüística en les previsions de la competència en valencià al País Valencià

Avaluem la importància relativa dels processos demogràfics i lingüístics en l’evolució de la competència per comprendre, parlar, llegir i escriure català en el País Valencià. Basades en les projeccions d’una vasta sèrie d’escenaris, les anàlisis de regressió múltiple mostren que l’adquisició de la llengua pròpia durant l’escolarització, la immigració i la integració lingüística dels immigrants tenen més pes que altres processos demolingüístics en els efectes a llarg termini dels nivells de competència.

Capital cities of federations. On the way to analysing the normative base of their asymmetrical status

Federal Capitals often have special statutes. Compared with member states, they often enjoy a lower degree of self-government and a lesser share in the governing of the federation. Why do actors choose such devices, and how can they be justified in a liberal democracy? Surprisingly, the burgeoning literature on asymmetric federalism (to which our research group has contributed significantly) has overlooked this important feature of a de iure asymmetry, perhaps because political theory up to now has concentrated on cases of multicultural and plurinational federations. However, comparative literature is also rare. This paper is the first step to filling in this gap by comparing some federal capitals. The Federal District model (Washington) is compared to capitals organized as member-states (Berlin and Brussels), and capitals that are cities belonging to a single member state (Ottawa in Ontario). The different features of de iure asymmetry will thereby be highlighted. Some light will be shed on the possible motives, reasons and justifications for the choice of each respective status. The paper opens the door to further research on such status questions by analysing public and parliamentary debates, for example. It paves the way for more thorough research. Sicne the author has been awarded a grant by the Institut d’Estudis Autonòmics, this research will be carried out soon.

Representació televisiva i percepció adolescent de les sèries dirigides als joves. Estudi de la sèrie “Física o Química”

El projecte de recerca present pretén plantejar les bases contextuals i metodològiques adients per realitzar una investigació.S’analitza la relació entre la representació televisiva que fan les sèries dirigides als joves i l’apropiació que en fan els adolescents d’aquests missatges. La sèrie objecte d’estudi és Física o Química.Es parteix d’un enfocament pluridisciplinar: combinació d’anàlisi qualitatiu i quantitatiu. Així mateix, la recerca utilitza dues bases d’anàlisi: anàlisi de continguts i anàlisi de recepció.

Los mundos posibles del discurso de Berlusconi. Un análisis de la evolución del contenido a través de cuatro discursos del líder del centro-derecha italiano

El siguiente trabajo es un estudio sobre las dinámicas y los contenidos de la comunicación política de Silvio Berlusconi y su partido, analizada mediante una perspectiva histórica y sociológica y mediante el análisis de cuatro discursospronunciados por Berlusconi a lo largo de 15 años.Para el análisis del discurso se utiliza la metodología elaborada por Jordi Pericot yArantxa Capdevila a partir de la “Teoría de la Argumentación” de Chaïm Perelman y dela teoría de los mundos posibles.

Female stereotypes in household appliances advertising and their social role in Spain: the perpetuation of a no- longer-existing female condition

The following dissertation proposes a qualitative approach on the matter ofadvertising, society and construction of identity, based on the effect of householdappliances commercials in constructing female identity of Spanish women today.Conclusions will be drawn based on a juxtaposition of social background andadvertising content and on how Spanish women of today perceive the evolution offemale imagery depicted in advertisements. The aim is to demonstrate how muchcommercials mirrors society and how far it reinforces paradigms no longer existing

Digital storytelling: un’applicazione didattica per ripensare ai media attraverso i media

El presente trabajo de investigación propone un proyecto de investigación centrado en los pre-adolescentes para estudiar, a través deautobiografías digitales (digital storytelling, DST) producidas por ellos, laspracticas cultural-medial y las representaciones que ellos han construido sobre los medios, en relación con los contextos de uso significativos, como el hogar, la escuela o su grupo de par. Los medios forman parte de las actividades cotidianas de los niños quien los emplean en prácticas de socialización, aprendizaje, juego y de construcción de la identidad y del conocimiento. Los digital storytelling,insertados en el contexto escolar, serán empleados como metodología didácticapara la adquisición de competencias tecnológicas y como instrumento de lainvestigación. Los DST, como practica cultural de los chicos, constituirán nuestrocampo para la observación de las modalidades de uso de los medios por parte delos jóvenes y sus capacidad de recombinar lenguajes y construir contenidos. LosDST proporcionaran, además, la posibilidad de acceder al universo simbólicoinfantil para comprender el significado que las tecnologías tienen en sus cotidianidad

Symbolic meaning of local identity – A case study on Barcelona place brand representation

The core objective of this research process was to design an operational tool for place brand analysis. By modelling the emotional significance and the deeper-lying symbols associated to a specific place identity I expected to create a semiotic tool that could be applied, mutatis mutandis, on other similar place brands. As a field case study to develop the instrument, my choice of the research arena was Barcelona city, the capital of Catalonia Autonomous Community, Spain. Barcelona brand identity was approached in the line of the Chicago Urban Anthropology School. The research methods were designed according to the prescriptions of the urban anthropology, namely qualitative methods: in-depth interviews and discourse analysis. The final research outcome was a model summarizing a range of specific emotional values that support a place brand to position in the collective mindset and to assume a positively valued status and identity in the world order.