Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

The study of the material practices of a society requires considering the types of epistemological framing in which they are developed and their effects on them. The modes of categorizing and distinctions, and the modes of organizing and clustering are part of the framing of the practices that this text addresses. It conceptually explores the modes of organizing sets based on the aggregative distinction between the singular and the plural, and the modes of organization focused on the compositional effect of the difference between molecule and mass. The conceptual exercise proposes that both modes of organization be used together, enabling the description of aggregation and composition phenomena integrated synchronically and diachronically in the material organization of the social.

This paper aims to approach the influence of the Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal on the social sciences through his concept of “underclass”. The starting point is the conviction that this concept demands social science to pay clear attention to the reality it studies, and not allow economics, for instance, to intend claiming independence and moreover arguing objectivity. It must return to its origin as social science. This paper is divided into four parts. In the first one we see how sociology arrives and takes the concept of “underclass” from Myrdal; in the second exposes synthetically the debate of social thought on this concept; the third lays out the structural points of Myrdal’s method, from the economics approach, and, finally, we pose some general conclusions on the actuality of this Swedish thinker.

The following work problematize the constructionist assumptions that underlie the theorization and sociological research of public problems. As such, we review the onto-epistemic components of constructionism and their relationship with the main authors in this research field, with the objective of problematizing them based on pragmatist proposals in the same field. Our proposal is that research on public problems is strengthened by combining both approaches. To prove the point, our argument runs as follows. After the introduction in which we situate the problem, we present the constructionist foundations from the work of Gusfield. Later, we discuss French pragmatist proposals, following D. Cefaí. We finish with a discussion about the relationship with the empirical, analytical, and political scope in the study of public problems.

The rise of social cooperatives can be related to the blurring of boundaries between sectors in the modern economy and the creation of hybrid organizations, which combine different rationalities in their activities. Despite the defined legal form, they can still express their organizational iden-tity in a variety of ways - adopt a more social or a more market orientation. One of the forms of expression of organizational identity is a declaration of mission, which includes, among others, basic values.The aim of the article is to: a) identify the types of mission statements in Polish social cooperatives; b) identify the values contained in the mission statements of Polish social cooperatives; c) determine whether the identity of an enterprise, social organization or mutual-support group prevails in Polish social cooperatives. For the purposes of the research, the contents of the missions of social cooperatives registered in Poland were analysed. 99 missions were identified and analysed using the IRAMUTEQ program. At a later stage, an invitation to participate in the survey was sent out to the 99 social cooperatives whose missions were being researched. The invite was addressed to the managers. The conducted analyses point to the existence of three main elements in the identity of Polish social cooperatives. The first, and the most developed one, is a social element related to the organ-ization’s orientation towards solidarity and its responsibility for the work and social integration of persons at risk of social exclusion, focus on beneficiaries and on their comprehensive service. This identity is related to high prioritization of such value as education. The second exposed element of identity is related to economic activity. The organizations in question see themselves as enterprises that should provide high-quality products and focus on customer satisfaction. This identity is related to values such as professionalism and work engagement, focus on employees and work safety. Matters related to business growth and competition, as well as values such as research and development, growth, product superiority, focus on competitors or company success are much less exposed. The third, least exposed area of identity has to do with responsibility for the environment and is associated with activities undertaken for the sake of community and envi-ronment.The analysis of the mission statements was supplemented with an analysis of case-specific data obtained in the questionnaire research. Two identities were predominant: enterprise and social organization, while the identity related to community affairs was marginalized. 

Recently, there is a new European Union commitment to the potential of the social economy which is a pioneer in job creation linked to the circular economy that will be further leveraged by the mutual benefits of supporting the green transition and strengthening social inclusion. Considering this general context, we propose in this paper an exploratory research aiming to investigate the potential of the Romanian social economy sector as part of a circular economy approach that could advance the green transition in the following years. Our paper is based on the findings of preliminary systematic content analysis for the identification of the social enterprises in Romania which include circular economy and/or green economy in their business model, and on qualitative research based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with the social economy organizations’ managers. We have highlighted five good practice examples (Recicleta, Atelierul de Pânz?, Educlick/Reconect, Remesh, and Bio&co Farm), which clearly show that combining the principles of social economy with the ones of circular/green economy is a strategy that might lead to overcoming the current challenges of the society. Our investigations represent the first approach to this topic, aiming to understand the specific challenges of the circular or green economy and social economy models when joining forces together for sustainable development in the context of an emerging social economy, as is the case of Romania.

This study analyzes, from a gender perspective, the profile of Argentine university andhigh school teachers in relation to their perceptions about their digital competences, withthe type of digital tools that they incorporate into their practices and their experience inICT for teaching. This study was developed after a year of emergency remote teaching inArgentina in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The information was collected froma self-administered questionnaire answered by 1149 teachers at that level. The analysis showssignificant gender differences in length of service, in the type of institution to which theybelong, in the disciplinary areas where teachers work, in the perception of teachers abouttheir own digital skills, in the experience of use and in the type of digital tools used tomediate teaching.

The reflections that articulate this intervention are based on an attempt to recover somecommunicational experiences linked to digital culture, thought of as bodily practices anddisciplining exercises; this with the aim of making visible some nutritional and healthpractices produced in the privacy of intimate spaces (living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms)that are framed by the screens of our devices. Some records or digital expressions cease tobe solely –recalling Joan Fontcuberta’s theory regarding postphotography– messages ortestimonies to become figurations that make visible new forms aimed at modulating thedocility of bodies, as conceived by Michel Foucault. gestated on the networks and in the massmedia. For this essay, we will review some visual proposals coming mainly from feministart, which are critically opposed to the proliferation of images of exclusion gestated on thenetworks and in the mass media. The reflections on studies presented here are mainly framedin disciplinary fields such as body studies, visual studies, and gender studies.

The proposal in the present article is to reflect on the use of the technological tools, and in special, the social networks among Moroccan women at present. We pretend to remark these technological tools favored freedom of expression for women in big cities. However, the difference in terms of economy and society around the country produces a situation in  which women have less opportunities than men in poorer zones. Therefore, in those areas the arrival of Internet has created a gender gap even more extended.

Clepsydra 23 (November 2022)

Foreword