Abstract
As its title indicates, an important objective of International Sociology is to publish articles which contribute to understanding major social transformations affecting different societies. This issue begins with a group of individual case studies which use qualitative data to explore different facets of migrant adaptation while recognising that migration potentially involves significant on-going transnational ties. Linking these papers together is a brief introductory article by Caroline Plüss who coordinated this group of papers. Entitled “Migrants’ social positioning and inequalities: The intersections of capital, locations, and aspirations” her introduction highlights the themes which unite this diverse set of case studies.
A more common way in which articles published in international Sociology contribute to understanding major social transformations is through comparative analysis. Two articles in this issue explore the impact of major social change in Europe while also addressing key aspects of the debate over the nature and impact of secularization. Requena and Stanek’s article directly examines the different patterns of secularization in Poland and Spain after the ending of their authoritarian regimes. In contrast, the article by Fernández and Lutter focusses on the increasing recognition of same-sex rights in Europe. In doing so their analysis highlights the role played by secularization in the process.
The final article in this issue by Anthias takes yet another approach to increasing understanding of social transformations and their relevance in different societies. It does this through a detailed examination of the debates surrounding class and intersectional analysis before proposing how they may be brought together to offer a more integrated analytical framework.