Development and dynamics of the family in Southern Europe

In this paper, I will discuss the development and dynamics of the family in Southern European countries, focusing in particular on its morphogenetic process. In fact, this perspective helps us understand what family diversification means in a global perspective. Certainly, the family is one of the social forms which is and will be even more subjected to the processes of rapid and profound change. In order to understand this change, we have to consider it as a social morphogenesis (i.e., a genesis of new forms), or, to be more precise, as a process with an accurate dynamic. Over time, both of these are describable and observable as a mutual conditioning (in the sense of interdependency) between identifiable, non-randomised factors that, in turn, range within a constraint and resource logic. This process could also develop new forms that are stable over time and settle down into morphogenetic process for long periods. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to understand the outcome of this morphogenetic process by focusing particular attention on the transformation of relationships between gender and generations in Southern European families.