ABSTRACT
The world situation includes a profusion of local conflicts. Those conflicts very often involve prejudices, and prejudices are built in families. Families are closed social units that are inward looking. Fear leads to violence, and children, women/mothers, and families suffer first. Some approaches that may be important for family and globalization researchers are to identify the topics that news media professionals find interesting. The level of contraceptive use is very low, reflecting the lack of formal supports for families. The crisis situation has accelerated the appearance and legalization of alternative forms of family and unions. Research findings related to family socialization practices and to the quality of the family environment seem to be quite closely related to the topic of the Symposium. In Russia, there is an environmental bureau–but there are many environmental catastrophes. Sociological investigations demonstrate the significance of the family and its special role in coping with numerous problems.
