Politics and Policies of the Social in the European Union – Looking at the Hidden Agendas

Author (Person)
Publisher
Publication Date 2007
ISBN 1-59454-588-X
Content Type

Abstract: Currently, the EU is shaken – the results of the referenda are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath we find a major block of frozen policies and polities, largely responsible for the current 'hyperactive paralysis'. There is no doubt, that many initiatives are currently taken – suggesting to overcome the crisis by hyperactive reactions. However, it is a good opportunity as well to look more fundamentally at the situation.
The present volume gives the opportunity to do so, allowing the reader to get familiar with developments in the social policy and governance area which are usually not considered – or even known.
The book, which can valuably be used as well as textbook looks in four lectures at following issues
* The pillars of the European Social Model
* Social Services – the European Perspective
* The Service Providers – Self Images and Networks
* Social Policy, Social Administration, Social Management, Social Work, and Community Work
In an additional chapter some fundamental thoughts are provided on conceptualising empowerment – a useful supplement as it allows the reader to reflect more principally on challenges for governance in the future EU.

Contents
PART I
EUROPEAN SOCIAL POLICY – POLITICS MATTER
LECTURE ONE
THE PILLARS OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL
Claimed Values and Orientations of European Integration
The Institutional System – Main Features
The Social Policy Framework
Claimed Values – the European Social Model
Key dates of the development
LECTURE TWO
SOCIAL SERVICES – THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE
Social Services – Actors on an Exchange Market
Person Oriented Social Services – Rights, Provision and Care
Demand for social services
Supply of Social Services
Outlook
LECTURE THREE
THE SERVICE PROVIDERS – SELF IMAGES AND NETWORKS
European Integration as multilevel process
Social EUrope between peoples’ rights and market subordination
EUropean social NGOs – self-maintenance and values
The Platform of European Social NGOs
LECTURE FOUR
SOCIAL POLICY, SOCIAL ADMINISTRATION, SOCIAL MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL WORK, AND COMMUNITY WORK
Defining Social Professions as Communicative Acts
Excurse: Social Policy Functions and the Systems Theory
Social Professions – National Traditions or Fundamental Human Rights
CONCLUSIONS
APPENDIX I
Social Platform Draft Statement of Principles and Objectives
APPENDIX II
Exercises and Tests
APPENDIX III
References
PART II
POLICY FOR, WITH AND BY WHOM?
EMPOWERMENT – PROCESSING THE PROCESSED
THOUGHTS TOWARDS A THEORETICAL DEBATE AND POLITICAL PRACTICE
EMPOWERMENT – PROCESSING THE PROCESSED
I. Introduction – Localising Empowerment
II. Reflecting Empowerment – The Light of Previous Debates on Social Quality
II.a. Empowerment – the notion of enlightenment
II.b Empowerment – a revival under the influence of the social and political crisis
III. Empowerment – its relevance in European politics
III.a. Power as Marketability
III.b. Individualism and liberalism
III.c. The American Turn of the EU Social Model
III.d. The Manageralisation
IV. A critical review empowerment as a matter of control over living conditions and life
V. Domains and dimensions – developing an analytical tool
V.a. Dimensions of empowerment
V.b. Conclusion
VII. Conclusions and Challenges

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