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We live in an age of insecurity. The Global Financial Crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the climate crisis are just the most evident examples of shocks that have increased the level of insecurity among elites and citizens in recent years. And yet there is ample evidence that insecurity is not equally distributed across populations.Bringing together disciplines such as political science, criminology, sociology, and anthropology and combining quantitative and qualitative studies from a wide range of rich and middle-income countries, this collection presents a new framework for exploring the two key social challenges of our times – insecurity and inequality – together. The volume analyses the nature, causes and distribution of subjective insecurities and how various actors use or respond to unequal security. The essays cover a host of themes including the unequal spatial distribution of (in)security, unequal access to security provision in relation to crime and welfare, the impact of insecurity on political attitudes as well as policy responses and the political exploitation of insecurity.An important contribution to debates across several social scientific disciplines as well as current public debate on insecurity and politics, the volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of criminology, social policy, peace and conflict studies, politics and international relations, sociology, development studies and economics. It will also be of interest to policymakers and government think tanks.

Current knowledge about the public social welfare sphere is vast, but fragmented. Boundaries defined by geography, language, and culture hinder knowledge exchange globally. In addition, there are not enough opportunities for explorers of the field's two conceptual hemispheres—social policy and social administration-to share insights across disciplinary boundaries. The Oxford Handbook of Governance and Management for Social Policy seeks to overcome these obstacles by applying multiple administrative lenses to diverse social policy issues from around the globe. Authors were carefully chosen by editors based in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Canada and the United States, Europe, and Latin America to detail the challenges facing their regions'social welfare spheres and the ways in which social systems have responded. Each main section of the handbook profiles the state of interdisciplinary knowledge in a geographic region during the decades spanning the turn of the millennium. Sub-sections of the handbook are organized thematically to enable inter-regional comparisons and spark insights across socio-cultural and academic boundaries. The result is a map of the intersection of social policy, governance studies, and public management on the eve of the COVID-19 global pandemic on all six of our planet's continuously inhabited continents. Starting in 2020, the pandemic and related crises forced adaptations to social welfare systems in every part of the world, with implications that may not be understood for generations. Future researchers will describe and measure such changes relative to benchmarks set in the pre-pandemic period, including the rich variety of practices and paradigms collected in this handbook.

This open access book provides practical guidance for non-profits and community sector organisations about how to get started with data analytics projects using their own organisations'datasets and open public data. The book shares best practices on collaborative social data projects and methodology. For researchers, the work offers a playbook for partnering with community organisations in data projects for public good and gives worked examples of projects of various sizes and complexity.

An der Schnittstelle von Arbeitsmigration und Gesundheitsarbeit untersucht dieses Buch die dynamische Beziehung zwischen der grenzüberschreitenden Bewegung von Krankenschwestern und den Bemühungen, ihre Migration zu regulieren. Auf der Grundlage qualitativer Forschung an mehreren Standorten analysiert dieser Band die sich verändernden sozialen Dimensionen und das transnationale Ausmaß der globalen Krankenpflege und konzentriert sich dabei insbesondere auf die Anwerbung von Pflegekräften von den Philippinen nach Deutschland. Die Abwanderung von Pflegefachkräften aus ressourcenarmen Ländern in wohlhabende Länder führt nicht nur zu einem globalen Pflegenotstand, sondern ist auch ein Paradebeispiel für den internationalen Wettlauf um Talente und Fähigkeiten. Dieses Buch wirft einen kritischen Blick auf das entstehende Feld der Migrationssteuerung oder des Migrationsmanagements als bevorzugte politische Antwort auf die konkurrierenden Diskurse über den globalen Pflegenotstand und den globalen Wettbewerb um qualifizierte Pflegekräfte. Es beleuchtet nicht nur das sich verändernde Geflecht von Akteuren, Diskursen und Praktiken im Migrationsmanagement der Pflegearbeit, sondern auch und vor allem, wie verschiedene Formen der Pflege in der globalen Migration von Pflegekräften zum Tragen kommen.

This Handbook examines the study of failure in social sciences, its manifestations in the contemporary world, and the modalities of dealing with it – both in theory and in practice. It draws together a comprehensive approach to failing, and invisible forms of cancelling out and denial of future perspectives. Underlining critical mechanisms for challenging and reimagining norms of success in contemporary society, it allows readers to understand how contemporary regimes of failure are being formed and institutionalized in relation to policy and economic models, such as neo-liberalism. While capturing the diversity of approaches in framing failure, it assesses the conflations and shifts which have occurred in the study of failure over time. Intended for scholars who research processes of inequality and invisibility, this Handbook aims to formulate a critical manifesto and activism agenda for contemporary society. Presenting an integrated view about failure, the Handbook will be an essential reading for students in sociology, social theory, anthropology, international relations and development research, organization theory, public policy, management studies, queer theory, disability studies, sports, and performance research.

This open access collection is devoted to an in-depth, qualitative analysis of practices of cross-national solidarity in response to the current political and social crises, from citizens'initiatives to networks of cooperation among civil society actors. The book analyses existing informal groups at the grassroots, furthering transnational solidarity in three thematic areas: disability, unemployment and immigration. Contributions assess how civic groups respond to the various crises affecting Europe, especially the economic and refugee crises, presenting new findings from a systematic comparative study conducted in eight European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the UK). The research will be of interest to scholars, students, journalists, policy-makers and activists interested in civil society, social movements, charitable actions, altruism and solidarity, as well as European studies and the socio-economic challenges of current European crises.

This volume introduces readers to the achievements made in the context of China's reform and opening up. It tells China's story with regard to twelve aspects: the reform path, opening up, macro-economy, regional development, the “three rural” policy, poverty alleviation, industrial development, scientific and technological leadership, ecological civilization, human resources, social security, and income distribution. On the one hand, China's successes and lessons learned in this regard – e.g. the establishment of special economic zones and pilot zones in advance, followed by the implementation of regional development strategies – can be condensed into a general sense of Chinese wisdom. On the other, China's participation in economic globalization and global economic governance can serve as a role model, helping developing countries overcome poverty and move towards modernization. As China accounts for nearly one fifth of the world's total population, the problems and difficulties that it faced at the beginning of reform and opening up are similar to those of many developing countries; therefore, it can provide valuable guidance for developing countries in the form of Chinese wisdom and Chinese approach.

Participants in the worldwide citizens'movement for social change and global justice like to proclaim that'Another World Is Possible.'But is it? To this popular slogan, Susan George adds a cautionary'If'and suggests how we can indeed reach that other world.Whether you are a seasoned campaigner and confirmed'world-changer,'someone who wonders how you can join in the growing citizens'movement, or someone who simply wants to know what this movement is about, this book is for you. You will discover that we are not condemned to glaring North-South inequalities, obscene wealth gaps, environmental destruction or inordinate power remaining in the hands of a small minority, if...

The volume offers essential reading for undergraduates who need an introduction to the field, for graduate students who wish to broaden their understanding of stratification research, and for advanced scholars who seek a basic reference guide. Although most of the selections are middle-range theoretical pieces suitable for introductory courses, the anthology also includes advanced contributions on the cutting edge of research. The editor outlines a modified study plan for undergraduate students requiring a basic introduction to the field.

Corruption, crime, economic inequality, religious fundamentalism, financial crises, environmental degradation, population ageing, gender inequality, large-scale migration… This book tackles many of the most pressing problems facing societies today. The authors demonstrate that similar social mechanisms lie behind many of these seemingly disparate problems. Indeed, many societal problems can be traced back to behaviours that are perfectly rational and often well-intended from an individual perspective. Yet, taken together these behaviours can – paradoxically – give rise to unintended and undesirable outcomes at the society level. In addition to addressing the causes of societal problems, the book explains why some problems rank higher on the public agenda than others. Moreover, it is shown how government intervention may sometimes provide a cure, yet other times exacerbate existing problems or create new problems of its own. This book includes an extensive amount of data on trends and geographic variation in the prevalence of different problems, as well as telling examples – both recent and historical – from a variety of countries to support its key arguments.Employing a bold multidisciplinary approach, the authors draw on insights from across the social sciences, including sociology, economics, anthropology, criminology, and psychology. Throughout the book, students are introduced to analytical concepts such as free-riding, herding behaviour, principal-agent relations and moral hazard. These concepts are essential tools for better understanding the roots of many societal problems that regularly make headlines in the news. This improved understanding will, in turn, be critical for ultimately finding solutions to these problems.

There is no threat to Western democracies today comparable to the rise of right-wing populism. While it has played an increasing role at least since the 1990s, only the social consequences of the global financial crises in 2008 have given it its break that led to UK's ‘Brexit'and the election of Donald Trump as US President in 2016, as well as promoting what has been called left populism in countries that were hit the hardest by both the banking crisis and consequential neo-liberal austerity politics in the EU, such as Greece and Portugal.In 2017, the French Front National (FN) attracted many voters in the French Presidential elections; we have seen the radicalization of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany and the formation of centre-right government in Austria. Further, we have witnessed the consolidation of autocratic regimes, as in the EU member states Poland and Greece. All these manifestations of right-wing populism share a common feature: they attack or even compromise the core elements of democratic societies such as the separation of powers, protection of minorities, or the rule of law.Despite a broad debate on the re-emergence of ‘populism'in the transition from the twentieth to the twenty-first century that has brought forth many interesting findings, a lack of sociological reasoning cannot be denied, as sociology itself withdrew from theorising populism decades ago and largely left the field to political sciences and history. In a sense, Populism and the Crisis of Democracy considers itself a contribution to begin filling this lacuna. Written in a direct and clear style, this set of volumes will be an invaluable reference for students and scholars in the field of political theory, political sociology and European Studies.This volume Concepts and Theory offers new and fresh perspectives on the debate on populism. Starting from complaints about the problems of conceptualising populism that in recent years have begun to revolve around themselves, the chapters offer a fundamental critique of the term and concept of populism, theoretically inspired typologies and descriptions of currently dominant concepts, and ways to elaborate on them. With regard to theory, the volume offers approaches that exceed the disciplinary horizon of political science that so far has dominated the debate. As sociological theory so far has been more or less absent in the debate on populism, only few efforts have been made to discuss populism more intensely within different theoretical contexts in order to explain its dynamics and processes. Thus, this volume offers critical views on the debate on populism from the perspectives of political economy and the analysis of critical historical events, the links of analyses of populism with social movement mobilisation, the significance of ‘superfluous populations'in the rise of populism and an analysis of the exclusionary character of populism from the perspective of the theory of social closure.

This book addresses the harmful influences that the cultural, social, economic, political and ideological dimensions, in current ‘American'society, have upon the delivery of elementary, secondary and university education. It examines the effects of poverty, funding at the local, state and federal levels and racial and ethnic discrimination. Arguing against the continuation of standardized testing—an ill-conceived methodology to measure the performance of children—the author advocates more one-on-one teaching and evaluation. He charges that students'rights to education are not respected and, in elementary and high school, receive little in the way of instruction that translates into life skills and proposes what some of those skills should be. A critique of the extreme ethnocentric approach to education in the United States, Left Behind advocates strong instruction in the Humanities and foreign languages and the establishment of education abroad as a permanent program in high school and university. The author identifies Capitalism as the basic influence that, in the form of employing ‘business model'constructs, has slowly transformed our children into obedient consumers. Physical Education has waned and become a major contributor to adolescent obesity. Seeking to replace children's complacency with critical thinking instruction, the author demonstrates how the corporate mass media occupy their minds. He also fears the erosion of the profession of teaching by an ‘online'instruction frenzy. The book explores the possibilities for a viable nation-wide education institution, in which decision-making is in the hands of teachers, parents and education experts, instead of politicians and business people. The remedies that could be taken up by ordinary people are accessible at the commonsense level; what prevents change are the lack of political will and economic greed, bolstered by the ideological power of the mass media.

This book portrays how small, geographically dispersed, and progressive social change and social service organizations working within a coalition can influence national-level social policies. Based on extensive empirical research on two national organizations and their local affiliates, one focusing on affordable housing and the other working to protect lower-income communities, this book shows the ways in which professionally staffed organizations that coordinate coalitions come about, and describes their work to mobilize coalition members to lobby and advocate, providing information, analysis and instruction to facilitate such action and, in so doing, becoming the public voice for the social change efforts of coalitions. Advocacy for Social Change details the characteristics of these organizations that the author has labeled as focal catalytic coalition organizations and then provides numerous examples of campaigns led by them on affordable housing and economic justice; campaigns that illustrate tactics that other social change organizations can emulate. As such, it will appeal to scholars of sociology with interests in social problems, social action, political sociology, urban studies, community development and organizing while extending the literature on interest group lobbying.

Social welfare programs often get blamed for the nation's budget woes. Is that fair? Gain insight into our'reluctant'social welfare system from a top scholar on the subject. Bruce Jansson analyzes the evolution of the American welfare state from colonial times to the present--placing social policy in its political, cultural and societal context. Rather than passively reading, you'll interact with the issues, oppressed populations, ethical choices, social and ideological conflicts, advocates and policies in preceding eras and in the contemporary period. You'll see how vulnerable populations and social reformers have achieved progressive reforms through policy advocacy. THE RELUCTANT WELFARE STATE also helps you develop the core competencies and practice behaviors outlined in the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Age, Gender and Sexuality through the Life Course argues that the gendered structure of temporality (defined in the dual sense of everyday time as well as age and stage of life) is a key factor underpinning the stalling of the gender revolution. Taking as its central focus the idealised young woman who serves as the mascot of contemporary success, this book demonstrates how the celebration of the Girl is (i) representative of social mobility, educational and professional achievement; (ii) possesses diligence, docility and emotional intelligence, and (iii) displays a reassuring sexuality and youthfulness – but is constructed from the outset to have a fleetingly short life span.Pickard undertakes a theoretical and empirical exploration of the contemporary female experience of education, work, motherhood, sexuality, the challenge of having-it-all. Furthermore, through additional analysis of the transitional ‘reproductive regime'from youth into mid-life and beyond, this insightful monograph aims to demonstrate how age and time set very clear limits to what is possible and desirable for the female self; yet how the latter factors also, if used reflexively, can provide the key means of resisting and challenging patriarchy.This book is aimed at a broad interdisciplinary audience located in gender studies, age studies, culture studies, sociology and psychology; accessible for advanced undergraduates and beyond.

This book provides selections from the seminal works of Karl Marx, Max Weber, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman that reveal some of the reasons why class, race, and gender inequalities have proven very adaptive and can flourish even today in the 21st century.

This book probes the complex interweaving, across time and cultures, of violence and non-violence from the perspective of the present. One of the first of its kind, it offers a comprehensive examination of the interpenetration of violence and non-violence as much in human nature as in human institutions with reference to different continents, cultures and religions over centuries. It points to the present paradox that even as violence of unprecedented lethality threatens the very survival of humankind, non-violence increasingly appears as an unlikely feasible alternative. The essays presented here cover a wide cultural–temporal spectrum — from Vedic sacrifice, early Jewish–Christian polemics, the Crusades, and medieval Japan to contemporary times. They explore aspects of the violence–non-violence dialectic in a coherent frame of analysis across themes such as war, jihad, death, salvation, religious and philosophical traditions including Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, mysticism, monism, and Neoplatonism, texts such as Ramayana, Mahabharata and Quran, as well as issues faced by Dalits and ethical imperatives for clinical trials, among others. Offering thematic width and analytical depth to the treatment of the subject, the contributors bring their disciplinary expertise and cultural insights, ranging from the historical to sociological, theological, philosophical and metaphysical, as well as their sensitive erudition to deepening an understanding of a grave issue. The book will be useful to scholars and researchers of history, peace and conflict studies, political science, political thought and cultural studies, as well as those working on issues of violence and non-violence.

Now updated with two new chapters and an extraordinary collection of photographs, this second edition of Paul Friedlander's Rock and Roll: A Social History is a smash hit. The social force of rock and roll music leaps off the page as Paul Friedlander provides impressive insights based on hits from Johnny B. Goode to Smells Like Teen Spirit and beyond. In this musical journey, Friedlander offers the melodious strains and hard-edged riffs of Elvis, the Beatles, The Who, Dylan, Clapton, Hendrix, Motown, the San Francisco Beat, Punk, New Wave, rap, metal, 90s grunge, plus file sharing, and much more. The book is written in a refreshing, captivating style that pulls the reader in, offering no less than a complete social and cultural history of rock and roll for students and general audiences alike. Friedlander writes,'This book chronicles the first forty years of rock/pop music history. Picture the various musical styles as locations on a giant unfolding road map. As you open the map, you travel from place to place, stopping at each chapter to sample the artistry. Don't forget to dress your imagination appropriately for this trip, because each genre is affected by the societal topography and climate that surround it. Enjoy your trip. We promise it will be a good one!'

This title was first published in 2003. This text seeks to show the importance of housing to individuals and in the broader context of social welfare. It offers a universal philosophical justification for housing provision based on a detailed theoretical consideration of need, choice, rights and responsibility. The implications of basing housing policies on these concepts are considered. Dr Peter King suggests that we should see housing as, above all, a pre-requisite for human flourishing. As such it is an essentially private activity. As a consequence, he argues, housing policy should be limited to a consideration of the enhancement of the personal fulfilment of individuals rather than seeking to further collective or utilitarian ends. Dr King's purpose in this book is to explore housing using the techniques and methods of social philosophy. He seeks to combat relativist approaches to housing discourse with a theoretical appreciation of housing based on universalist principles derived from Kant and Nozick. The book therefore addresses housing issues with a philosophical rigour, but without ignoring key policy debates.

Do we judge the poor? Do we fear them? Do we have a moral obligation to help those in need? The moral and social grounds of solidarity and deservedness in relation to aid for poor people are rarely steady. This is particularly true under contemporary austerity reforms, where current debates question exactly who is most ‘deserving'of protection in times of crisis. These arguments have accompanied a rise in the production of negative and punitive sentiments towards the poor. This book breaks new ground in the discussion of the moral dimension of poverty and its implications for the treatment of the poor in mature welfare states, drawing upon the diverse political, social and symbolic constructions of deservedness and otherness. It takes a new look at the issue of poverty from the perspective of public policy, media and public opinion. It also examines, in a topical manner, the various ways in which certain factions contribute to the production of stereotyped representations of poverty and to the construction of boundaries between ‘insiders'and ‘outsiders'in our society. Case studies from the UK and Italy are used to examine these issues, and to understand the impact that a moralising of poverty has on the everyday experiences of the poor.This is valuable reading for students and researchers interested in contemporary social work, social policy and welfare systems.

Anthropological field studies of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in their unique cultural and political contexts. Cultures of Doing Good: Anthropologists and NGOs serves as a foundational text to advance a growing subfield of social science inquiry: the anthropology of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Thorough introductory chapters provide a short history of NGO anthropology, address how the study of NGOs contributes to anthropology more broadly, and examine ways that anthropological studies of NGOs expand research agendas spawned by other disciplines. In addition, the theoretical concepts and debates that have anchored the analysis of NGOs since they entered scholarly discourse after World War II are explained. The wide-ranging volume is organized into thematic parts: “Changing Landscapes of Power,” “Doing Good Work,” and “Methodological Challenges of NGO Anthropology.” Each part is introduced by an original, reflective essay that contextualizes and links the themes of each chapter to broader bodies of research and to theoretical and methodological debates. A concluding chapter synthesizes how current lines of inquiry consolidate and advance the first generation of anthropological NGO studies, highlighting new and promising directions in this field. In contrast to studies about surveys of NGOs that cover a single issue or region, this book offers a survey of NGO dynamics in varied cultural and political settings. The chapters herein cover NGO life in Tanzania, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Peru, the United States, and India. The diverse institutional worlds and networks include feminist activism, international aid donors, USAID democracy experts, Romani housing activism, academic gender studies, volunteer tourism, Jewish philanthropy, Islamic faith-based development, child welfare, women's legal arbitration, and environmental conservation. The collection explores issues such as normative democratic civic engagement, elitism and professionalization, the governance of feminist advocacy, disciplining religion, the politics of philanthropic neutrality, NGO tourism and consumption, blurred boundaries between anthropologists as researchers and activists, and barriers to producing critical NGO ethnographies.

In the context of the increasing global movement of people and a growing evidence base for differing outcomes in child welfare, Routledge Handbook of Global Child Welfare provides a compelling account of child welfare, grounded in the latest theory, policy and practice. Drawing on eminent international expertise, the book offers a coherent and comprehensive overview of the policies, systems and practices that can deliver the best outcomes for children. It considers the challenges faced by children globally, and the difference families, services and professionals can make. This ambitious and far-reaching handbook is essential reading for everyone working to make the world a better and safer place for children.

Developing countries may not have full-fledged welfare states like those we find in Europe, but certainly they have welfare state systems. For comparative social policy research the term'welfare state systems'has many advantages, as there are numerous different types/models of welfare state systems around the world. This path-breaking book, edited by Christian Aspalter, brings together leading experts to discuss social policy in 25 countries/regions around the world. From the most advanced welfare state systems in Scandinavia and Western Central Europe to the developing powers of Brazil, China, India, Russia, Mexico and Indonesia, each country-specific chapter provides a historical overview, discusses major characteristics of the welfare state system, analyzes country-specific problems, as well as critical current and future trends for further discussions, while also providing one additional major focal point/issue for greater in-depth analysis. This book breaks new ground in ideal-typical welfare regime theory, identifying now in total 10 worlds of welfare capitalism. It provides broad perspectives on critical challenges which welfare state systems in the developing and developed world alike must address now and in the future. It will be of great interest to all scholars and students of social policy, social development, development and health economists, public policy, health policy, sociology, social work and social policy makers and administrators. This book is a reference book for researchers and social policy administrators; it can also serve as a textbook for courses on comparative social policy, international social policy and international social development.

L'espace démocratique se rétrécit, particulièrement pour les personnes qui sont les cibles des profilages racial, social et politique. La décennie au pou­ voir du gouvernement conservateur a laissé des traces profondes. La démo­ cratie en a fait les frais?: entre autres, il y a une crise de la légitimité parlemen­ taire, un affaiblissement du pouvoir de contestation de la société civile et une austérité sélective… Les libertés publiques et privées sont attaquées de toute part du fait d'un impératif sécuritaire, qui prétexte sou­ vent la lutte au terrorisme. Au gré des lois spéciales et d'un usage abusif de divers règlements, les droits de grève et de manifestation tendent à disparaître. Le quadrillage sécuritaire du territoire et des populations est en constante progression : surveillance électroni­ que, caméras de surveillance dans les lieux publics, restriction des libertés individuelles, arrestations préventives, certificats de sécurité, infiltration poli­ cière des groupes militants, censure, restriction du droit de manifester, tout cela met à mal les libertés politiques conquises de haute lutte par les mobili­ sations antérieures. Le monde néolibéral nous conduit à une lutte des classes inversée : aujourd'hui, ce sont les classes domi­ nantes qui se mobilisent pour étendre leurs privilèges. Cet ouvrage collectif porte une atten­ tion particulière à la criminalisation de l'opposition, en revenant par exemple sur la grève étudiante de 2012 au Québec et l'histoire des lois spéciales, sur les mobilisations autochtones réprimées au moyen de la force et sur la pathologisation de la « différence », laquelle apparaît comme une menace : les musulmanes certes, mais aussi les pauvres et les personnes en souf­ france psychologique. Criminalisation et pathologisation participent d'une vision sécuritaire du social, par laquelle les élites politiques ou économiques « gèrent » la société.

Development in Crisis: Threats to human well-being in the Global South and Global North, is a provocative, engaging and interesting collection of real-world case studies in development and globalization focusing on under-emphasized threats to growth and human welfare worldwide. Created by two of America's top development sociologists, it targets undergraduates, graduates, academics and development professionals. Crises such as falling state capacity, declining technological innovation, increasing class inequality and persisting gender inequality are considered, along with their economic and social consequences.

The search for ‘the Decent Society'– a fit place in which to live – has informed policy at both governmental and international level. This book analyses its nature and devises a consistent way of measuring the concept world-wide on the basis of a coherent theory of agency within social structure. Influenced by classical sociology and by the economist Amartya Sen, the book posits that societies need to create (a) economic security, (b) social cohesion, (c) social inclusion, and (d) the conditions for empowerment. The model is interactive and recursive; each component provides the requirements for each of the others.This book outlines the sociopolitical framework underlying'the Decent Society'and summarises a decade of research, some of which has had a formative impact on governments'policies. The first half contains studies of social quality based on surveys in the former Soviet Union and sub-Saharan Africa, while the second half describes the construction of a Decent Society Index for comparing very different countries across the world. This book and the index it develops will be of interest both to academics and researchers in sociology, politics, economics, psychology, social policy and development studies and to policy-makers in government, local government and the NGOs.

Care for the elderly, disabled and mentally-ill within and by the community forms a vital part of current social policy. Martin Bulmer argues that this policy is inadequately thought out and rests on a series of poorly founded sociological assumptions. As a result there is a vacuum at the heart of government's social care policy which is likely to lead to ineffective or deteriorating provision for those in need. This book, first published in 1987, will be essential reading for all those concerned with the organization and delivery of social care, whether as students, practitioners or teachers. It will be particularly useful for courses dealing with social policy, the personal social services and the social context of social work.

Wie konnte soziale Arbeit im Sozialismus verstanden und praktiziert werden, auf welche Ziele waren die sozialen Dienste ausgerichtet und welches Verständnis von sozialer Arbeit herrschte im Kontext der damaligen Sozialpolitik vor? Diese Fragen analysiert Marie Špiláčková am Beispiel von fünf Zielgruppen sozialer Arbeit in der damaligen Tschechoslowakei. Gleichzeitig untersucht die Autorin mithilfe der historischen Hermeneutik, ob in der Tschechischen Republik die heutige Einschätzung der damaligen Funktion der sozialen Arbeit in der kommunistischen Ära der Tschechoslowakei angemessen ist und ob die gesellschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen und die damaligen sachlichen, sozialen sowie soziokulturellen Vorstellungen und Ziele sozialer Arbeit angemessen berücksichtigt werden.

In recent years, the concept of flexicurity has come to occupy a central place in political and academic debates regarding employment and social policy. It fosters a view in which the need for continuously increasing flexibility is the basic assumption, and the understanding of security increasingly moves from social protection to self-insurance or individual adaptability. Moreover, it rejects the traditional contradictions between flexibility and security, blending the two into a single notion and thus depoliticizing the relationships between capital and labour. This volume provides a critical discussion of the flexicurity concept, the theories upon which it is built and the ideas that it transmits about work, unemployment and social justice. It shows that flexicurity fosters the further individualization of social protection, an increase in precariousness and the further weakening of labour in relation to capital. The authors present a series of alternative theoretical, normative and policy approaches that provide due attention to the collective and political dimension of vulnerability and allow for the development of new societal projects based on alternative values and assumptions.

The welfare state plays a key role in people's everyday lives in developed societies. At the same time, the welfare state is contested and there are constant discussions on how and to what degree the state should intervene, influence and have an impact on the development of society. Recent years have seen an accelerated transformation of the welfare state in the light of the global financial crisis, demographic change and changes in the perception of the state's role in relation to social welfare. This raises fundamentally new issues related to social policy and welfare state analysis. This book provides: an introduction to the principles of welfare a conceptual framework necessary for understanding social policy at the macro-level a comparative approach to welfare states globally an overview of new ways to organise and steer welfare states an introduction to welfare state politics and underlying economic framework an account of equality and inequality in modern societies new directions for welfare states The book's focus on core concepts and the variety of international welfare state regimes and mechanisms for delivering social policy provides a much needed introduction to the rapidly changing concept of welfare for students on social policy, social studies, sociology and politics courses.

This ILO flagship report provides a global overview of the organization of social protection systems, their coverage and benefits, as well as public expenditures on social protection. It includes valuable and comprehensive statistical annexes with the latest social protection data.

​Ländliche Räume wurden trotz ihrer sozialräumlichen Besonderheiten bislang kriminologisch kaum umfassend und differenziert betrachtet. Mit dieser Studie liegt eine mittels mehrperspektivischem Forschungsansatz erstellte Kriminologische Regionalanalyse für einen gesamten Landkreis vor. Die Autoren stellen den Einsatz klassischer Forschungsmethoden für eine mehrdimensionale Sozialraumanalyse vor und führen mit ihren Ergebnissen nicht zuletzt in eine Kriminologie ländlicher Räume ein. Mit dem Analyseschwerpunkt „Jugendgewalt und Migration“ bieten sie zudem eine umfassende Reflexions- und Planungsbasis für die lokale zielgruppengerechte Präventionsarbeit.​

The International Handbook on Social Policy and the Environment reviews debates concerning poverty, inequalities, social distribution, social rights, taxation, healthcare, education, water and energy policies to examine the relevance and importance of climate change to social policies and welfare reform.Environmental change is central to the global social policy challenges of the twenty-first century. This comprehensive Handbook brings together leading experts from around the world to address the most important questions and issues we face. How should welfare states adapt to environmental change? To what extent are the ecological and social policy agendas compatible? Must we contemplate radical reforms to the principles and organisation of welfare services? Combining cutting-edge theory and data in an interdisciplinary approach, this Handbook both summarizes existing developments and suggests how debates and research must develop in the future.This book will appeal to taught postgraduates, doctoral students and academics across the policy and social sciences. It will also be of interest to non-academic researchers, practitioners and environmental activists. With case studies drawn from many countries including Australia, Japan, Germany, Scandinavia, Canada, Latin America and the UK, the Handbook will provide an important resource for years to come.Contributors: N. Bardsley, K. Bell, E.L Boasson, M. Boström, W. Bretschneider, M. Briguglio, S. Brooks-Wilson, M. Brown, M. Büchs, I. Bugeja, J. Cherni, H. Dean, T. Fitzpatrick, E. Gawel, K. Hussey, Y. Kameyama, J.L. MacArthur, H.O. Nielsen, A.B. Pedersen, A. Schaffrin, S.V. Schnepf, C. Snell, J. Wettestad

Seit 1974 haben sich in fast einem Drittel aller Staaten der Erde Veränderungen des politischen Systems vollzogen, wobei in erster Linie unterschiedliche Typen von demokratischen Regierungssystemen entstanden sind. Seit 1989 waren zahlreiche Übergänge kommunistischer Einparteisysteme zu Repräsentativsystemen zu beobachten. Diese Systemtransformationen fordern die Politikwissenschaft dazu heraus, Methoden und Vorgehensweisen zu entwickeln, mit deren Hilfe solche Vorgänge erfaßt und in ihrem Ablauf erklärt werden können. Die Studie'Transformation in Ungarn und der DDR - eine vergleichende Analyse'von Christof Ehrhart stellt auf der Grundlage eines systematischen Vergleichs der Geschehnisse in Ungarn und der DDR einen Zusammenhang zwischen den spezifischen Ursachen der Transformation und deren Verlauf her. In der politikwissenschaftlichen Forschungspraxis werden Transformationen bisher weniger als Chance denn als Herausforderung wahrgenommen. Trotz des Aufkommens neuer Erklärungsansätze, die anstelle der Makro-Ebene des politischen Systems die Mikro-Ebene der Akteure oder die Meso-Ebene der Institutionen in den Mittelpunkt der Analyse rücken, steht die Disziplin noch am Beginn einer theoriegestützten Beschäftigung mit den Phänomenen des Systemwandels und Systemwechsels in kommunistischen Einparteisystemen. Christof Ehrhart unternimmt vor diesem Hintergrund eine Expedition in das weitgehend unerforschte Gebiet der Desiderata der Transformationsforschung. Dabei steht im Kern die Suche nach jenen Faktoren, die den Verlauf und die Dynamik von Systemtransformationen im allgemeinen und von kommunistischen Einparteisystemen im besonderen bestimmen. Die Untersuchung von Christof Ehrhart besticht durch den souveränen Umgang mit Forschungstraditionen, Theorien und Methoden auf der einen sowie auf den historisch-politischen Fakten auf der anderen Seite. Dem Politikwissenschaftler, dem Studenten wie auch dem interessierten Laien erschließt sich auf diese Weise nicht nur die

In an era of ongoing economic failures, as governments cut support to the poorest, the richest continue to get richer and those in-between are squeezed by rising costs and flagging incomes, the challenges for social cohesion – and for social justice – seem overwhelming. As inequality increases, it can become harder to empathise with life experiences far removed from our own, particularly when fuelled by a sense of injustice. Our samenesses and our differences can remain unseen, unvalued or misunderstood. In this ambitious, wide-ranging book, the author sets out a vision for social justice as'inclusive equality', where barriers to equality and inclusion are removed to the maximum extent possible while preserving and strengthening social cohesion. Weaving together themes from the theoretical literatures on social justice, poverty, discrimination and social exclusion, she explores relationships between equality, diversity and inclusion - a novel approach that reveals clear, practical implications for the design and delivery of social policy.

Der Begriff des'Wohlfahrtspluralismus'lenkt die Aufmerksamkeit darauf, daß soziale Wohlfahrt nicht allein durch staatliche Sozialpolitiken bestimmt ist. Beiträge von seiten des Marktes, von Familien, Privathaushalten und informellen sozialen Netzen sowie aus dem zivilgesellschaftlichen Bereich freier Träger und Initiativen spielen bei der Wohlfahrtsproduktion mehr als eine nur untergeordnete Rolle. Damit richtet sich der analytische Blick auf eine Aufhellung der Bedeutung von Institutionen, die jenseits von Staat und Markt, aber doch in enger Verflechtung mit beiden operieren. Der Begriff zielt gleichzeitig auch auf konzeptionelle Fragen einer Sozialpolitik, der es darum zu tun ist, gesellschaftliche und gemeinschaftliche Solidarformen anzuerkennen und zu nutzen. Eine dementsprechende (Um)Verteilung von Aufgaben und Verantwortlichkeiten zwischen staatlichen und gesellschaftlichen Instanzen in neuartigen'welfare mixes'schafft nicht nur Möglichkeiten zur Freisetzung von Synergieeffekten; sie nötigt auch dazu, die Frage nach sozial und politisch gerechten Lösungen wieder neu zu stellen. Neben einem ausführlichen Einleitungs- und Überblicksbeitrag der Herausgeber zum Stand der internationalen Diskussion enthält der Band eine Reihe analytischer Aufsätze von in- und ausländischen Autoren sowie ein Kapitel mit Beiträgen, in dem Chancen und Herausforderungen (z. B. der Stadt- und Sozialplanung, von sozialen Diensten im Bereich von Alten- und Kinderbetreuung u. a. m.) erörtert und illustriert werden.

Practising Social Inclusion presents what we know about what works, and why, in promoting social inclusion and practising in a socially inclusive way. Contributing to the growing debates on social inclusion, this book moves beyond discussion of who it is that is socially excluded and the processes of exclusion. It draws on research and reflective practice to answer the vital question of how to actually work towards inclusion and includes five sections looking at different arenas for practice: policy; programme design; service delivery; community life; and research.Relevant to all those working to promote, or researching, human health and wellbeing, this book is especially suitable for practitioners, students and scholars in health promotion, social work, social policy, public health, disability studies, occupational therapy and nursing.

Dieser Buchtitel ist Teil des Digitalisierungsprojekts Springer Book Archives mit Publikationen, die seit den Anfängen des Verlags von 1842 erschienen sind. Der Verlag stellt mit diesem Archiv Quellen für die historische wie auch die disziplingeschichtliche Forschung zur Verfügung, die jeweils im historischen Kontext betrachtet werden müssen. Dieser Titel erschien in der Zeit vor 1945 und wird daher in seiner zeittypischen politisch-ideologischen Ausrichtung vom Verlag nicht beworben.

Rural Change and Public Policy: Eastern Europe, Latin America and Australia examines rural change and related public policies in three contrasting areas of the world to identify common problems and gain insight and understanding of the change process. This book is organized into five parts encompassing 15 chapters. Part I provides a conceptual background useful in examining rural development issues in an international perspective, focusing on economic development, usually the central question in public policy deliberations on rural areas. This part also emphasizes the interdependence between rural and urban areas as well as the importance of rural-urban regional inequity considerations. Part II deals with the critical role of government in influencing and directing rural change, while Part III surveys some of the changing attitudes and attitudinal responses of rural residents experiencing social, political, educational, and/or economic change. Part IV considers the broad issue of rural workers and employment opportunities, a critical issue in rural societies. Part V looks into the problems of land utilization and land tenure.

​In welchem Verhältnis steht die Nutzung Sozialer Arbeit zu der Fähigkeit ihrer Nutzer, ihnen (in der Regel) formal gegebene (politische) Bürgerrechte auch effektiv auszuüben? So lautet die zentrale, demokratietheoretisch motivierte Fragestellung von „Entbürgerlichung durch Adressierung?“, einer Studie zur Analyse des Verhältnisses Sozialer Arbeit zu den sozialen Voraussetzungen politischen Handelns. In Auseinandersetzung sowohl mit aktuellen empirischen Studien und Debatten aus dem Umfeld Sozialer Arbeit, Politikwissenschaft und Jugendforschung als auch in Aufarbeitung der internationalen Debatten um Citizenship und deren Anreicherung um die herrschafts- bzw. klassentheoretische Position Pierre Bourdieus entfaltet der Autor in der vorliegenden Studie folgende zentrale These: Trotz ihrer unbestreitbaren Wichtigkeit reicht die formale Verleihung universeller Bürgerrechte nicht aus, um den Zugang zu politischem Handeln für alle Bürgerinnen und Bürger gleichermaßen sicherzustellen. Zum Erlangen politischer Handlungsfähigkeit bedarf es vielmehr zusätzlich eines spezifischen „Vermögens“ im Sinne der Verfügung über materielle und symbolische Machtmittel. Die somit an der für bürgerlich-kapitalistische Klassengesellschaften konstitutiven Widerspruchs zwischen formalen Bürgerrechten und de facto besessener politischer Macht ansetzenden und auf soziale Schließung ausgerichteten Entbürgerlichungsprozesse bilden den Kernpunkt der vorliegenden Analyse und werden von ihrem Autor auf das wohlfahrtsstaatliche Feld der Sozialen Arbeit übertragen, wo er der Frage nach sowohl ver- wie auch entbürgerlichenden Effekten Sozialer Arbeit nachgeht, sowohl im Hinblick auf historische wie insbesondere aktuelle Entwicklungen, wie z.B. der Politik des aktivierenden Staats und der engagementpolitischen Anrufung der Bürgergesellschaft in der Post-Demokratie.