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• Globalization theory of late modernity and identities in risk society

  101-121

  Balazs Bocskei

  Views:

  157

  Modernity is the sum of the fragmented cultural systems of meaning, that are mutually influential
  on each other, plus of economic and political relations continually changing and transforming –
  a complexity that manifests itself in the structure of the (world) risk society even on the level of
  the individual. Following the late modern turn, the phenomenon of the means and opportunities
  determining the ability of choice is not being shared equally, but multiplied as regards global
  actors, as well as choice of identity, perceptibility of risks and facing them. The study presents
  the new inequality factors and the asymmetric power relations of the late modernity along the
  works by the recently died sociologists of the globalization theory (Ulrich Beck and Zygmunt
  Bauman). In the world risk society, each community and individual bear the risks indifferently.
  Accordingly, the ascertainments of the study are that the globalised economy and the subjects
  of the local poverty do not possess the same degree of the freedom of maneuvering. In order
  to demonstrate this and also to identify each postmodern life-strategy, the study relies on the
  works on identity by the discussed sociologists. According to the latter, the study concludes, that
  the reflexivity of the risk is the most profitable for those who are in the high position of the new
  inequality, thus, have the power to determine conflicts generated by them and inflict them on
  those excluded from the struggle of definition of risk.

• Foreign students of the medical faculties in Pécs and Debrecen: the choice of the university and acculturation process

  22-43

  Nóra Faubl

  Zsuzsanna M. Császár

  Ádám Tamás Wusching

  Zsuzsanna Füzesi

  Views:

  210

  With the headway of globalization and knowledge-based economy, international student mobility is promoted as the main indicator of the internationalization of higher education. In Hungary the number of foreign students – similarly to global trends – shows an increase, representing a significant economic interest. Besides this, the international students make a growing impact
  on the development and the economic and cultural life of the cities where the universities are based. In our empirical research, we analyzed international students at the Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy foreign language programs of the University of Debrecen and the University of Pécs with the help of personally requested anonymous, self-completed questionnaires (n=602). The
  self-developed questionnaire focused on three issues: the motivation of the students, their satisfaction with the university and the process of their integration. The research was conducted in the spring semester of the academic year 2015/2016 at both universities.
  Based on the results it can be stated that from the perspective of medium- and long-term policy development of the university and the city, it is indispensable to survey the motivations and satisfaction of the students arriving to Hungary due to international student mobility as well as to facilitate their integration. The general medicine major of the University of Pécs and
  that of the University of Debrecen are very popular among foreign students but there are significant differences in their choices behind which we can discover the different cultural background of the matriculated students and this factor determines their personal choices and their later plans. Concerning the difficulties at the beginning we can state based on the results that for the
  students of the German programme the different language medium and the local bureaucracy mean a bigger challenge, while for the heterogeneous community of the English programme contact building with the tutors and the integration into the socio-cultural medium mean more difficulties. Concerning the integration we can state that from the point of country of origin the integration means a little less challenge for the more homogenies student community of the German programme than for the heterogeneous community of the English programme behind which most probably the stabilization of the acculturation process can be trailed.

• Alone together? Shared space, time, and solidarity in commuter relationships

  72-87

  Orsolya Kolozsvári

  Views:

  171

  Long-distance relationships have always existed, however, as a result of globalization, modern
  communication technology, as well as widespread travel opportunities, their number has
  increased. This study focuses on commuter relationships, that is, those couples that only see
  each other during the weekend or in every few weeks due to working far from their home. 24
  interviews were conducted with commuter couples in small towns and villages. A key research
  question involved satisfaction levels among interviewees. Dissatisfaction with their relationship
  was relatively rare, except some women complained about increased household tasks. Daily
  communication and modern communication technology had an immense role in boosting
  satisfaction levels. Technology has also contributed to the creation of shared space and time
  among commuter couples. Regular communication, special dates, and shared plans for the
  future also raised relationship solidarity. To survive time apart and make time spent together
  more special timework was used, which was done together for the purpose of influencing the
  subconscious and subjective sense of time.