Perceptions of Generational Conflict Among Three Age Groups in South Korea

After rapid industrialization during the past few decades, the gap between generations in South Korea has widened and the issue of generational conflict is being discussed as a social problem (Chung & Lim, 2018). The purpose of this study is to find out how each generation perceives generational conflict in the areas of family, politics, economy and social welfare, and culture. An online survey of 1,000 adults aged 20 and over was conducted nationwide in South Korea in January, 2021 with three age groups: the youngest group aged 20-39, mid-age group of 40- 64 and the oldest group of 65 and over. The questionnaire was created using the items developed by a previous research that used a Delphi technique (Chung, 2020). Participants answered how serious they perceive generational conflict in the dyadic relationship on 5-point Likert scales. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and t-tests have been performed to see the generational differences. Results show that the youngest group and the oldest group perceive the highest level of generational conflict each other in the areas of culture and politics. In cultural aspects, ‘use of slang among the same group’, ‘Ability to utilize digital devices’ were the items that had the highest level of conflict. In the political realm, progressive vs. conservative ideology was the area of the highest conflict. In addition, t-test results showed that the oldest group perceived generational conflict even deeper than the youngest group in the ‘economy and social welfare’ and cultural areas. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Catholic marriages and family politics: the Vaux children vs. Sir Thomas Tresham

The recusant brothers-in-law William, third Baron Vaux of Harrowden (1535-95) and Sir Thomas Tresham (1543-1605), are best-known as exemplars of stalwart Catholicism and for their claims of fidelity to queen and country. They rose to prominence for their connection to the Jesuit proto-martyr Edmund Campion in 1581, and Vaux’s daughters Anne and Eleanor are celebrated — or notorious — for their support of the Jesuit Henry Garnet and suspected complicity in the Gunpowder Plot. Tresham’s sister Mary married Vaux, and the two men enjoyed a close friendship. Vaux leant heavily on Tresham for counsel, and the families have thus been absorbed into arguments for a closed Catholic community who drew closer together amid persecution. Yet these families were also divided, not by religio-political matters of great weight, but by more earthly causes of family unhappiness: youthful disobedience, scandalous marriage, and money. Through a close analysis of three linked episodes of family strife, this article looks beyond the singular fact of their confessional identity to argue that, like their Protestant counterparts, Catholics were not immune to acrimony. Disruptions to family unity could heap further tribulation on Catholics, and shared confessional identity might not be sufficient to repair bonds once severed.

Beethovens Auseinandersetzung um die Vormundschaft über seinen Neffen Karl aus historischer und soziologischer Perspektive

This article investigates from a historical and sociological perspective, Beethoven's struggle for the guardianship of his nephew, Karl, from November 1815 until September 1820. Its purpose is to illuminate Beethoven's knowledge and actions in the case of guardianship against the backdrop of contemporary historical and sociological conditions. In the early nineteenth century guardianship meant most certainly more than just the acceptance of legal custody of a minor; rather it was understood as an expression of the public recognition of talent, assets and social standing, as well as of character and honor. It furthermore functioned as an indicator of social status and position. Of great significance were also aspects of the position of legal guardian, the types of disputes with relatives, matters of family politics, the societal roles of fathers, issues of child-rearing, perceptions of status and rank, the traditional construction of gender difference and, lastly, norms of sexual behavior. The article reads Beethoven's letters and statements against the guardianship provisions of the Allgemeines Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch and contemporary legal practice, and argues that his struggle for Karl's guardianship was motivated by his ideas about social advancement through education as well as gendered norms of good parenthood.

The Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria and Liturgical Inculturation in Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus

Beyond its entertainment value, every piece of creative literature has something more to say which reading between the lines often has a way of revealing. This is true of the novel Purple Hibiscus by the award-winning Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. While his novel says something about the family, politics, post-colonial history and religious realities such as priesthood, mission, Mary, and the Eucharist, this paper looks at what it can tell us about liturgical inculturation and its implications for the Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria. It is hoped that the paper would help to continue, in the spirit of interdisciplinarity, the conversation on the nexus between Ecclesiology and Creative Literature.

Geographical Variation in Local Gender Contracts in Sweden

Despite Sweden’s national gender-neutral family and social policies, local differences in gender contracts exist and have been related to differences in the structure of the labour market and cultural traditions. Existing studies are outdated and used relatively large administratively defined areas, which may lead to several measurement and interpretation errors. This paper examines geographical variation in gender contracts in present-day Sweden using individualized neighbourhoods on different scales. Gender contracts are operationalized using six indicators on the level of family, politics and labour. We identify five types of local gender contracts: the metropolitan gender contract, the progressive gender contract, the suburban gender contract, the commuter gender contract and the traditional gender contract. The most gender equal patterns are found in metropolitan and other urban areas, with high shares of fathers taking parental leave and the highest shares of women with high education and gainful employment, and low shares of young mothers. The analyses give evidence of considerable local variation instead of a dominant gender contract in each region. The findings may stimulate further research and local policies on gender inequality.

Konsolidasi Elit Dalam Membentuk Kekuasaan Politik Lokal Keluarga Mus di Kabupaten Kepulauan Sula

Studi ini menekankan pada bagaimana konsolidasi elit dilakukan untuk membentuk dan mempertahankan kekuasaan bagi sebuah politik keluarga di Kabupaten Kepulauan Sula. Bermula dari salah satu anggota keluarga yang maju dan berhasil dalam Pilkada sebagai Bupati, lalu menciptakan elit lokal Kepulauan Sula yang baru sehingga sumber-sumber kekuasaan dapat dikelola untuk membentuk suatu politik keluarga yang dikenal dengan Keluarga Mus. Penelitian bersifat deskriptif dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, data diperoleh melalui observasi lapangan, wawancara mendalam, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa ada beberapa jalur yang digunakan keluarga Mus untuk melanggengkan kuasa politiknya. Dua jalur utama sebagai sumber kekuasaan yakni melalui kooptasi kekuasaan di internal partai politik dan juga jalur birokrasi. Selain itu, dugaan adanya jalur sumber kekuasaan lain yaitu melalui pemekaran Pulau Taliabu yang juga akan dijelaskan. Berdasarkan temuan tersebut, dapat disimpulkan bahwa elit lokal di Kepulauan Sula melalui konsolidasi kekuatan dan kekuasaannya telah menciptakan satu fenomena politik yakni hadirnya politik keluarga di Kabupaten Kepulauan Sula. Penelitian ini diharapkan memberikan kontribusi keilmuan di bidang politik dan pemerintahan, dan secara praktis memberikan pelajaran penting bagaimana elit lokal meraih kekuasaan politiknya.This study emphasizes how elite consolidation is carried out to form and maintain power for family politics in the Sula Islands Regency. Starting from one of the family members who advanced and succeeded in the Pilkada as a Regent, then created a new local elite in the Sula Islands. The sources of power could be managed to form a family politics known as the Mus Family. This research is descriptive using a qualitative approach, data obtained through field observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The study results found that there were several routes used by the Mus family to perpetuate their political power. Two main lines as a source of power, namely through the co-optation of power within political parties and bureaucracy. Also, the alleged existence of another source of power through Taliabu Island's expansion will be explained. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the local elites in the Sula Islands, through their consolidation of strength and power, have created a political phenomenon, namely the presence of family politics in the Regency of Sula Islands. This research is expected to contribute to science in politics and government and practically provide important lessons on how local elites gain political power.