Project M3.3.B/ORG.R.C./014/2020

The Sociology Meeting of the Azores was, since its beginning, a privileged place for the discussion of relevant and current topics for contemporary Azorean society. In this 13th edition, ESA focuses its attention on the relationship between social cohesion, citizenship and sustainability. Social cohesion is closely related to citizenship, which is materialized in dimensions such as political participation and sustainability. In contemporary societies, social cohesion permeates all debates, gaining special meaning in matters of education, employment, the economy, population aging or migration, just to mention some of the most structuring ones. The issues of social cohesion are also articulated with the different modalities in which citizenship unfolds and, in particular, with the emerging problems of sustainability. In fact, the growing multiplication of identities and the increase in income distribution inequalities make the twin debates of citizenship and social cohesion central in society. On the other hand, the effects of Humanity on the environment are having more and more social, political and economic repercussions, associated with new social and political movements as well as changes in social representations of the world. In this XIII Sociology Meeting, open to the whole public, we will seek to debate these themes, focusing on proposals that question the specificities of the Azores on these subjects. with the participation of regional, national and foreign experts. There will be two external events (1. Sociologia na Rua dedicated to sociological research carried out in the Azores, and 2. Book launch - Açores: Retratos e Tendências Sociais), which will allow the dissemination and debate on this topic among the community in general. Specifically about Sociologia na rua, this is an event organized by the Research Center of the University of the Azores CICS.NOVA.UAc/CICS.UAc and aims to bring to the general public news of the research carried out at this Center on the Azores, particularly in the field of Sociology. With regard to the launch of the book - Açores: Retratos e Tendências Sociais, this will consist of a moment in which the final results of various investigations already completed on the Azorean social reality will be presented. On the 26th and 27th of November, the sessions developed within the scope of the meeting will take place on the Ponta Delgada campus of the University of the Azores, and will be promoted through round tables between national and foreign specialists that will focus on various specific dimensions of the relationship between social cohesion, citizenship and sustainability, thus opening space for an active and participatory debate that fosters the civic involvement of Azorean society in understanding and combating this problem.

One of the most pressing challenges in today's societies is to promote processes of social cohesion. To this end, the relationship between social cohesion, citizenship and sustainability translated into informed participation is undeniable. The XIII Meeting of Sociology of the Azores appears as a privileged space to debate these problems and, based on this discussion, to inform, through the research that has been carried out, the regional public policies, in order to allow policy makers to equate and implement strategies to promote social cohesion, civic participation and the necessary sustainability in such a specific context as the Azores. More specifically, the XIII Sociology Meeting of the Azores, highlighting the importance of considering aspects related to social cohesion, with the participation and well-being of European citizens, in a context of sustainability, aims to contribute to responding to the challenges proposed in the document “Challenges societal”, contained in the public notice for the DRCT competition, of which we highlight most urgently: - Protection of the environment; cultural heritage (enabling a dynamic and sustainable cultural heritage in response to climate change); - Inclusive societies (the response of European models of social cohesion and well-being to factors such as migration, demographic change, aging society, disability, education and lifelong learning, as well as the reduction of poverty and social exclusion, taking into account cultural and regional diversities); - involving citizens, civil society organisations, companies and research and development users and promoting coordinated research and development policies; new forms of innovation, with special emphasis on social innovation; make use of the innovative, creative and productive potential of all generations; promote coherent and effective cooperation with third countries. These topics will be discussed at the Meeting, taking into account the particularities of national and regional culture in the European context, as well as the contribution of the different participating specialists.