In the last two decades, China's education has experienced significant transformations and restructuring on account of privatization and marketization. Unlike the Mao era when the state assumed the major responsibilities in financing and providing education, individuals and families have now to bear increasing financial burdens in paying for…

This article focuses on research about welfare state restructuring in education and its implications for the teaching profession. Several things are described and discussed. However, amongst the most important are pan-European developments in the social relations of production in education over the past 50 years with respect to the…

In China, from the founding of the People's Republic of China to the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, it was thought that religion would disappear with the development of society and the freedom not to believe in religion was stressed. During the Cultural Revolution religion became the object of oppression. However, from the end of the…

Since the post-Soviet context is not particularly well known to the majority of readers, the author uses this introduction to provide a general background against which developments in particular post-Soviet countries can be better understood. The author begins by placing these developments in the sociohistoric context of language policies of the…

In the management of common property resources, privatization is often advocated as the surest path to sustainability because of its reliance on human self-interest in natural resources decision making. This article demonstrates that the motive of self-interest, though powerful, does not necessarily lead to environmental outcomes that promote the…

This paper presents a new approach to the measurement of change within human systems (individuals, groups, organizations, communities). It is reported as being a more realistic and accurate approach than the use of simple raw-score change, easier to calculate than the analysis of co-variance and other procedures designed to equalize the effects of…

Argues that the family and the enterprise of family therapy are social systems and under the influence of the ideology particular to a given society. The strategic family therapy treatment of a family with a drug-addicted member serves as an example to clarify the ideological themes of contemporary family therapy. (Author/BL)

Discusses conceptual differences between "culture,""social system," and "society." Suggests ways that a unique concept of culture can become meaningful in cross-cultural psychological research. (GC)

Examines the work of several contemporary social theorists and commentators, who have focused on conflicts in contemporary social values and beliefs and the cultural contradictions of capitalism. Endeavors to develop cultural understanding of schooling and social reproduction in society through recognition of the contradictory and dissonant nature…

By the early nineteenth century, New Humanism and the educational ideals for which it stood, placed the profession of grammar school teacher on a pedestal from which to this day has proved impossible to topple, and gave it a function and a power in German society which has only been recently understood. (Author/RY)

Compares and contrasts the various forms of Darwinism and discusses the tenets of Pragmatism with respect to social change, truth, solution of individual and social problems, and fitness." (JB)

Responds to an earlier comment by R. Jean Hills regarding the correct use of Parsonian concepts. Notes the difficulty of presenting Parsons' theory and quotes several sources supporting his interpretation of the functions of a system's managerial level. (RW)

Responding to Willower's earlier questioning of the concept of systems' functional requirements, the author outlines the Parsonian theory of action, discussing action systems' components (values, norms, organizations, and facilities) and their functional imperatives or requirements (pattern maintenance, integration, goal attainment, and…

Provides conceptual analyses of mind control techniques along with practical advice on how to resist these techniques. The authors stress that effective mind control stems more from everyday social relations than from exotic technological gimmicks. Suggestions are given for resisting persuasion, resisting systems, and challenging the system.…