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one more concerned with developing a scien- Wanjiru, 1995), analysis of issues of autonomy
tific field within the terms of reference of the and competition within professional markets,
social sciences. and how the control of professionals from gov-
Contributions of the first type (Colegio de ernment agencies can arise. In addition, in a
Abogados de Barcelona, 1983; Pérez Pulido context in which the citizen-client-consumer
and Herrera Morillas, 2003; Tejada and is mainly bound to market-driven processes,
Rodríguez, 2003) were mostly descriptive, attention to both information management
with no reference to international literature (documentalists, librarians, archivists and
and based predominantly on the analysis of journalists) and economic professions has
survey data (although some qualitative increased (Alonso and Vázquez, 2000; Canel
research techniques such as interviews were et al., 2000; De la Sierra et al., 1981; Guillén,
also included) about a specific occupational 1989; Moreiro et al., 1995).
or professional group. The key concepts in Spanish theories and
In the second type of research literature, the interpretations of professional groups con-
influence of international concepts and theo- tinue to be professionalization together with
ries became important and significant. In par- deprofessionalization and proletarianism
ticular, professionalization became the key (Fernández Enguita, 1993; Fernández Pérez,
concept around which researching efforts were 1995; Rodríguez and Guillén, 1992). As a
organized and interpreted (Fernández Pérez, consequence, interpretations tend to focus on
1995; González Moll, 1996; Guillén, 1992; processes of occupational closure and compe-
Llovet and Usieto, 1990; Riera, 1998; Sáez, tition. Occupational conflicts, particularly in
1996, 1998a–c, 2003). This concept came to respect of the power and dominance of some
occupy a core place in discussions and occupational groups, continue to be empha-
replaced the term profession as the central sized. In addition, the clashes of managers and
organizing concept or focus in the field. As a professionals in service work organizations
consequence, and in line with developments in have been analyzed – sometimes as a form of
Anglo-American interpretations, the concepts deprofessionalization. The study of profes-
of occupational closure and jurisdictional com- sionalism as a discourse of occupational
petition became prominent in interpretations. change and social control has not yet been
The international work which has had a addressed directly. Also, the renewed attention
strong influence on Spanish sociologists in to the advantages of professionalism as a third
the field has been that of Abbott (1988). logic (Freidson, 2001) for both clients and
However, during this period, an effort to practitioners has not made an impact, though
review the sociological literature connected the influence of Bertilsson (1990) could antic-
to the analysis of professions was carried out ipate and lay the foundations for such an
by Múgica (1998, 1999), who makes an inter- effect. Thus, in the Spanish sociology of pro-
esting link between classical sociological fessional groups, interpretations based on
theory (Weber, Durkheim and Simmel) and occupational competition have mostly
both traditional and emergent professions. In replaced both the emphasis on conflict and an
addition, there has been a shift away from the earlier focus on contribution and cooperation.
liberal concept of profession towards a more Issues to do with occupational change and
democratic one, in line with developments by control are yet to be systematically included.
Swedish colleagues (e.g., Bertilsson, 1990)
where professions located within a demo-
cratic society may become agents for the
equitable distribution of goods and resources. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Connected with this, we are also witnessing
efforts to revise professional codes of ethics From this brief review of the theoretical
(ASEDIE, 1999a, b; Gómez Pantoja, 2001; developments in the intellectual field of the