Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais (Jun 2008)
Jovens, estudantes e ‘repúblicos’: Culturas estudantis e crise do associativismo em Coimbra
Abstract
This paper takes as its cue a brief reflection on the trends towards change in the youth and student universe (namely the current meaning of the social movements of the 1960s) and characterises the forms of sociability, the practices and the subjective orientations of Coimbra University students, endeavouring to relate past struggles and the memory of same to the challenges now facing civil participation and associations. Special emphasis is laid on aspects such as: the Academy’s festive and ritual tradition; attitudes and subjectivity towards social life; the role played by the Student Union and the importance of its activity; and participation in actions developed by associations and in public protest. Based on a set of data gathered by means of a representative survey of Coimbra University’s student universe, this paper discusses some recent trends in this field and analyses the results, taking into account different segments of the student population, namely those residing in the so-called ‘Republics’ and the female sector.
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