Family Changes in Serbia: Social Capital and Postponed Adulthood

Type: 
Lecture
Audience: 
Open to the Public
Building: 
Nador u. 11
Room: 
006
Monday, January 29, 2007 - 5:00pm
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Date: 
Monday, January 29, 2007 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm

The Center for Policy Studies organized a public lecture by Smiljka Tomanovic, Associate Professor at Department of Sociology, University of Belgrade.

The increase in number of extended family households is a consequence of “blocked” or “prolonged” transformation of society in Serbia. Within primary groups and informal networks, strong “bonding” social capital is formed that functions as the basis for everyday coping strategies. In the social context marked by structural constraints, paternalistic family relations, and strong bonding social capital, young people’s transition to adulthood is postponed up to ten years as compared with some Western European countries. Although there are some policy measures related to young people’s situation, Serbia lacks multi-sectoral, comprehensive and coordinated youth policy. The obstacles for designing and implementing youth policy stem mainly from political field.

Smiljka Tomanovic was Associate Professor in Sociology at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, where she tought Sociology of the Family, Sociology of Childhood, Sociology of Youth, and some courses in qualitative methodology. She was director of the Institute for Sociological Research and participated in numerous research projects.

The event was followed by a reception.