Religious Tastes and Styles as Markers of Class Belonging: A Bourdieuian Perspective on Pentecostalism in South America

Studies on the relationship between social class and religion tend to highlight the demographic dimension of class, but neglect its symbolic dimension. By addressing the symbolic dimensions through a Bourdieuian approach, this article contends that religious tastes and styles can be employed as class markers within the sphere of religion. A case study on Argentinean Pentecostalism and in-depth analysis of a lower and middle class church illustrate how symbolic class differences are cultivated in the form of distinctive religious styles. While the lower class church displays a style marked by emotional expressiveness and the search for life improvement through spiritual practices, the middle class church performs a sober and calm style of Pentecostalism. The study highlights the role of styles in the reproduction of class boundaries, while shedding a critical light on the importance of tastes

Mudanças religiosas e dinâmicas demográficas: mais além da teoria da secularização. O caso do catolicismo na cidade de Córdoba, Argentina

Este artículo explora críticamente las explicaciones de las dinámicas religiosas en Argentina basadas en la Teoría de la Secularización (TdS). La mayoría de sus referentes usa como variable independiente las relaciones político-institucionales; por eso, la TdS explica lo que sucede con la dirigencia de la institución y las organizaciones intermedias. Esta investigación recoge datos directos de los registros de bautismos durante un siglo en la ciudad de Córdoba (Argentina) y los compara con la tasa de natalidad. Este análisis muestra que eluso de variables político-institucionales no explica adecuadamente lo que sucede con las dinámicas religiosas, medidas en bautismos. La hipótesis propuesta es que las transformaciones religiosas se entienden mejor cuando se aplican variables demográficas.his article critically explores the explanations of religious dynamics in Argentina based on Secularization Theory (TdS). Most scholarship uses political-institutional relations as an independent variable; therefore, TdS focuses on what takes place within the leadership of the institution and intermediate organizations. This research collects data directly from a century of baptism records in the city of Córdoba (Argentina) and compares it with the city’s birth rate. This analysis shows that the use of political-institutional variables fails to adequately explain religious dynamics, as measured in baptisms. The proposed hypothesis is that religious transformations are better understood when demographic variables are applied.Este artigo explora criticamente as explicações das dinâmicas religiosas na Argentina baseadas na Teoria da Secularização (TdS). A maioria de seus referentes usa as relações político-institucionais como variável independente; por isso, a TdS explica o que acontece com a direção da instituição e das organizações intermediárias. Esta pesquisa recolhe dados diretos dos registros de batismos durante um século na cidade de Córdoba (Argentina) e os compara com a taxa de natalidade. Essa análise mostra que o uso de variáveis político-institucionais não explica adequadamente o que acontece com as dinâmicas religiosas, medidas em batismos. A hipótese proposta é que as transformações religiosas são melhor entendidas quando variáveis demográficas são aplicadas.Fil: Morello SJ, Gustavo. Boston College; Estados UnidosFil: Rabbia, Hugo Hernán. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Politicas y Relaciones Internacionales; Argentin

Open innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises: An overview

Our introduction provides the foundation and background for this special issue on open innovation. Since the beginning of the 21st century, innovation has evolved from being the artefact of an individual or internal process within firms to an interactive process between firms and/or in collaboration with knowledge-creating institutions at both the domestic and global levels. The open innovation model suggests that firms should combine external and internal ideas and technologies as effective pathways to market when advancing and commercialising technologies. However, existing research focuses mainly on high-technology multi-national firms hence, theoretically driven and empirically-based research exploring open innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises remains relatively scarce. This special issue offers a critical contribution to this gap with four articles which explore differing aspects of open innovation within smaller firms. The introduction to this special issue commences with an overview of the relevant literature; it then describes the articles and, finally, suggests potential avenues for future research

Death penalty: the political foundations of the global trend toward abolition

The death penalty is like no other punishment. Its continued existence in many countries of the world creates political tensions within these countries and between governments of retentionist and abolitionist countries. After the Second World War, more and more countries have abolished the death penalty. This article argues that the major determinants of this global trend toward abolition are political, a claim which receives support in a quantitative cross-national analysis from 1950 to 2002. Democracy, democratization, international political pressure on retentionist countries and peer group effects in relatively abolitionist regions all raise the likelihood of abolition. There is also a partisan effect as abolition becomes more likely if the chief executive’s party is left-wing oriented. Cultural, social and economic determinants receive only limited support. The global trend toward abolition will go on if democracy continues to spread around the world and abolitionist countries stand by their commitment to press for abolition all over the world.

Information and consultation in small and medium sized enterprises

About the book: This collection examines the implications for various stakeholders of the new EU Directive on Information and Consultation. As well as containing new and classic readings, it also contains contributions from leading academic, employment, trade union, and legal experts, analyzing the value-added potential to be derived by the effective implemention of information and consultation procedures