Family Ties in Western Europe: Persistent Contrasts

摘要: IN THE WESTERN WORLD it is not difficult to identify areas where families and family ties are relatively "strong" others they '"weak." There regions traditionally the group has had priority over individual, individual values have everything else. The strength resilience of loyalties, allegiances, authority can be seen most clearly within coresidential domestic among persons from same conjugal family, although extend larger kin as well. These differences may well characterized European for centuries, there few indications that convergence occurring today. way in which relationship between its members manifests itself implications society functions. Politicians public planners would do consider nature existing systems when designing certain social policies. geography these strong weak does appear follow classic division Europe into stem-family nuclearfamily regions. dividing line, some ways, actually much simpler, with center north (Scandinavia, British Isles, Low Countries, Germany Austria), together North American society, being by links, Mediterranean region ties.' specific boundaries different often crystal clear, subregional abound. Eor example, respects Ireland fit northern patterns, southern Erance walk divergent paths, fringes Spain, Italy, or Portugal show characteristics distinct parts those countries. Within societies, also room heterogeneity affecting life. This multiplicity forms