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Theoretical background and objectives

Theoretical background and objectives

The way in which citizens define their national identity can conflict with how it is defined by political elites at the macro-level. It can be difficult to infer one from the other. Citizens do not always agree with or follow elite discourse and policy making, while elites do not always listen to citizens. Thus, understanding the subjective meaning citizens assign to their national identity, their sense of belonging to an “imagined community” (Anderson, 1991) including everyday rituals and practices ought to be an independent exercise that extends and complements research at the macro-level.

Theoretical background and objectives

This project focuses on social processes that lead to a transformation of the occupational motivational structure.

In sociological research, notably in education, career, organisation and gender studies, observable discontinuations of educational and occupational aspirations have for some time been interpreted as cooling out. Generally speaking, cooling out indicates a more or less intended process within institutions or organizations that causes a subtle process of disengagement on the level of the subject.