Symbolic universes between present and future of Europe: First results of the map of European societies' cultural milieu

Sergio Salvatore , Viviana Fini , Terri Mannarini , Giuseppe Alessandro Veltri , Evrinomi Avdi , Fiorella Battaglia , Jorge Castro-Tejerina , Enrico Ciavolino , Marco Cremaschi (1) , Irini Kadianaki , Nikita A. Kharlamov , Anna Krasteva , Katrin Kullasepp , Anastassios Matsopoulos , Claudia Meschiari , Piergiogio Mossi , Polivios Psinas , Rozlyn Redd , Alessia Rochira , Alfonso Santarpia (2) , Gordon Sammut , Jaan Valsiner , Antonella Valmorbida

1 CEE - Centre d'études européennes et de politique comparée (Sciences Po, CNRS)
2 LPCPP - Laboratoire de psychologie clinique, de psychopathologie et de psychanalyse

This paper reports the framework, method and main findings of an analysis of cultural milieus in 4 European countries (Estonia, Greece, Italy, and UK). The analysis is based on a questionnaire applied to a sample built through a two-step procedure of post-hoc random selection from a broader dataset based on an online survey. Responses to the questionnaire were subjected to multidimensional analysis–a combination of Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Cluster Analysis. We identified 5 symbolic universes, that correspond to basic, embodied, affect-laden, generalized worldviews. People in this study see the world as either a) an ordered universe; b) a matter of interpersonal bond; c) a caring society; d) consisting of a niche of belongingness; e) a hostile place (others’ world). These symbolic universes were also interpreted as semiotic capital: they reflect the capacity of a place to foster social and civic development. Moreover, the distribution of the symbolic universes, and therefore social and civic engagement, is demonstrated to be variable across the 4 countries in the analysis. Finally, we develop a retrospective reconstruction of the distribution of symbolic universes as well as the interplay between their current state and past, present and future socio-institutional scenarios.

Mots clés: European societies' cultural; Europe

Domaines: Sociologie

Sergio Salvatore, Viviana Fini, Terri Mannarini, Giuseppe Alessandro Veltri, Evrinomi Avdi, et al.. Symbolic universes between present and future of Europe: First results of the map of European societies' cultural milieu. PLoS ONE, 2018, ⟨10.1371/journal.pone.0189885⟩. ⟨hal-02182396⟩