The Family branch of the Social Trends Institute seeks to enhance the understanding of marriage and family life in contemporary societies around the world. This branch is also dedicated to exploring the ways in which strong and stable families serve the common good in the modern world.
In service of its mission, the Family branch sponsors original research, Experts Meetings, and classes that explore the state of the family around the globe. The Family branch also supports the
Marriage Matters Project, which seeks to understand the cultural and social sources of marital quality and stability among young adults in the United States.
To date, STI's Family branch has held the following Experts Meetings:
Whither the Child? Causes, Consequences & Responses to Low FertilityFrom March 11-13, 2010, this meeting explored the cultural causes of low fertility around the globe, the social and economic consequences of low fertility for adults and children, and cultural and policy responses to low fertility. Professor Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia served as academic director.
Why Marriage is in the Public Interest
From December 16-18, 2004, Professor Robert P. George led STI’s second Family branch Experts Meeting at Princeton University. The event, which was organized by the
Witherspoon Institute and sponsored by STI, was hosted by the
James Madison Program in American Ideals.
The meeting covered a wide range of issues affecting the institution of marriage as it stands today. Some of these issues included the modern meaning of marriage, divorce, the decay of marriage in the Western world in recent years, children and the family, the legal changes marriage has precipitated (or been affected by), the question of same-sex marriage, and the movement for civil unions.
The papers presented were published in the volume
The Meaning of Marriage: Family, State, Market and Morals.
Additionally, ten basic principles that came out of the meeting were highlighted in a publication that is available in English (
Marriage and the Public Good: Ten Principles), in Spanish (
Matrimonio y bien común: los diez principios de Princeton) and in German (
Ehe und Gemeinwohl. Zehn Leitlinien).
Family Policies in Western Countries
On April 27th, 2004, STI held its first Experts Meeting on Family Policies at the Columbus Hotel in Rome. Professor Pierpaolo Donati from the University of Bologna presented a background paper and participants were invited to present their own views or a commentary on Professor Donati's remarks in an original paper.
This private meeting explored issues such as the principles that inspire family policies today, major trends in Western family law, the family as an economic agent, the problem of defining the family in Western politics, and the impact of globalization, to name a few. Participants included experts from Italy, Great Britain, the United States, Norway, Spain and Germany.
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