Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

José Ortega y Gasset: Historical Context

During the lifetime of José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955), Spain experienced the most diverse political forms. This period saw the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, which was replaced by the Second Republic, subsequently interrupted by the Civil War, leading to Franco's dictatorship. Outside of Spain, the era was marked by the loss of Cuba and the Philippines, known as the Disaster of '98. Globally, the First and Second World Wars, the Cold War, German Nazism, and Italian Fascism profoundly shaped the geopolitical landscape.

Socio-Cultural Landscape of Ortega's Era

Society witnessed a significant growth in the political influence of the middle class and increased participation of the masses in political... Continue reading "José Ortega y Gasset: Context, Thought, and Enduring Legacy" »

Franco's Rejection of Democracy and the Rise of Organic Democracy

Franco rejected the democratic system, based on popular will, suffrage, and the separation of powers. For the construction of the new state, he was inspired by the Italian corporatist state, which organized popular participation from three basic units: the family, the town, and the union. These represented the natural elements of society, according to the regime, unlike political parties, which are the instrument of citizen participation in democratic systems.

The System of Organic Democracy

The system was named organic democracy, a name with which the regime wanted to give a certain legitimacy, but it clearly differentiated itself from representative democracy. Popular representation... Continue reading "Franco's Regime: Organic Democracy in Spain" »

Understanding Leadership Styles

Autocratic Leadership Style

• Characteristics:
  • Leader holds discretionary powers and assumes full responsibility.
  • Does not delegate tasks or distribute work.
  • Establishes a bonus system based solely on results, without considering individuals or circumstances.
• Implications:
  • Can lead to demotivation.
  • Encourages nervous competition among group members.
  • Promotes individualism.
  • Results in a lack of group cohesion.

Laissez-faire (Hands-Off) Leadership Style

• Characteristics:
  • Boss does not make decisions or interfere; the group makes them.
  • Does not recognize or criticize results.
  • Provides no guidelines or establishes work plans.
• Consequences:
  • Individualism.
  • Poor group motivation.
  • Poor relationships between group members.
  • Absence of group

Purpose and Objectives of Management

The purpose of management is to improve an organization's productive contributions. It is responsible from an ethical, social, and strategic standpoint. An administrative objective is a goal that requires a defined action. Orientation suggests extra effort for a leader.

Purpose of Administration

Achieving common goals through planning, organizing, directing, and controlling activities, and using resources to satisfy the needs of a society.

Importance of Administration

• Basics: Universality, simplification of work, productivity and efficiency, common good.
• It gives effect to human efforts.
• It helps to get the best staff, equipment, materials, money, and human relationships.
• It provides foresight and creativity.
• Continuous

The Process of Romanization in Hispania (S. I-III)

Territorial Administration: Provinces, Monasteries, and Cities

Augustus' administrative reform established two types of provinces: a) Senatorial and b) Imperial.

Economic Characteristics and Slavery

Hispania was integrated into a system of production based on slavery, in which the people of the conquered territories provided cheap and abundant labor. This system was a key cog in the Roman Empire.

Roman Hispania's Social Structure

Social position was determined by legal category, inherited in principle, but which could change throughout life. From top to bottom, the social hierarchy included the following categories:

• Citizens Belonging to Orders:
  • Senate Order
  • Equestrian Order
  • Order Decurional
• Roman Citizens

Key Features of Colloquial Language

Suprasegmental Elements

Intonation, accents, tone, and rhythm are critical elements in conveying meaning.

Word Order Flexibility

Speakers often rearrange words to emphasize items of interest, leading to a more logical flow.

Statement Complexity

Colloquial language often involves elaborations, anacolutha (shifts in grammatical construction), mixed styles, and syntactic displacement. For example, "The keys, where did I put them?"

Contextual References (Deixis)

Frequent use of deictic elements like "I," "you," and "now" that rely on the shared context for interpretation.

Discourse Markers

Increased use of discourse markers such as "then," "well," "okay," and "man" to structure conversation.

Relaxed Enunciation

Characterized... Continue reading "Understanding Spoken Language: Key Features and Oral Genres" »

Self-Access Language Learning 1996

Newsletter of the Hong Kong Association for Self-Access Learning & Development.

Self-Access & Collaborative Learning

Hong Kong has the highest concentration of self-access language learning facilities in the world. Within this concentration, there is diversity in whether facilities cater to individual or collaborative work. The individual-group dimension of self-access aligns with some preoccupations in language learning theory, namely: individualization and collaborative learning, empowerment, cultural preferences, and the technologization of learning.

Individualization and Collaborative Learning

Self-access is often accused of promoting individualistic approaches to language learning. This is a result... Continue reading "Self-Access Language Learning in Hong Kong" »

Republican Spain

Repression and Revolution

As the uprising began, Prime Minister Casares Quiroga ordered the dissolution of rebel units and exempted soldiers from obeying their rebellious leaders. Fearful of the escalating revolution, he resigned, and another government was formed, led by Martínez Barrio. President Azaña then commissioned José Giral to form a new government. Lacking a loyal army to quell the uprising, the government ordered the distribution of arms to militant workers' organizations. This step initiated a full-blown revolution.

The Red Terror

From this point on, uncontrolled terror was unleashed by committees, militias, and people's courts. The first weeks saw the burning of churches and convents, assaults on prisons, and the... Continue reading "Republican Spain: Revolution, Terror, and Internal Conflict" »

ODA: Official Development Assistance

Official Development Assistance (ODA) is the economic contribution of states to development, free of charge, or better than those offered by the international market, even though it has many limitations, such as insufficiency.

Economic Globalization

This type of globalization implies global interdependence in the production, exchange, and consumption of goods.

Multinational Corporations

These are product/service companies based in one country with affiliates in various states across the globe. They act with a global strategy.

IGIEA: Index of Governance of the International Economy

This index measures the capacity and legitimacy of each country to participate in the governance of the global economy in the economic... Continue reading "Key Concepts in International Development and Economics" »

The Use of Galician

Galician's habitat is predominantly in rural areas and villages, where it is the majority language. However, it is a minority language in cities. Older Galician speakers predominate among the older generations, while its presence is reduced among the younger population.

Three Positive Aspects of the Use of Galician

• Official recognition: Galician is recognized as an official language.
• Attitudes and prejudices: Negative attitudes towards Galician have gradually reduced. Over 80% of the population has a positive view and welcomes its enhancement.
• Increased use: Its use has increased in public media, cultural life, education, and commercial activity.

Language Definitions

• Original language: The language a person learns to speak and