Social exclusion: concept, approaches and operationalization Cover Image

Социјална исклученост: поим, пристапи и операционализација
Social exclusion: concept, approaches and operationalization

Author(s): Zoran Šuḱur
Subject(s): Civil Society, Social differentiation, Social Theory, Family and social welfare
Published by: Филозофскиот факултет во Скопје
Keywords: social exclusion; poverty; marginalization; distributional and participative dimensions; social integration; deprivation; inclusion;

Summary/Abstract: Attractiveness of the social exclusion is not correspondent with its conceptual and theoretical establishment. The article explores different problems of defining social exclusion, basic approaches as well as efforts for conceptual operationalization. The author pays particular attention to differentiating social exclusion from other concepts or approaches, especially its separation from poverty, as early use of the exclusion concept appeared as substitute for poverty. The author analysеs advantages and disadvantages of the conceptual turn towards social exclusion. One of its advantages is that enables easy shifting from one discourse or paradigm to another. Different meanings and causes of social exclusion as well as models of social integration are being analysed through three paradigms: solidarity, specialization and monopoly. Until now there have been different efforts for operationalization of the social exclusion. The author argues that only the combination of inadequate distributional and participative dimensions can serve as an indicator for social exclusion. Also the article emphasizes need for more systematic analysis of indicators of exclusion. The concept of social exclusion has merged the material and socio-psychological aspects of the living standard. Tendencies within European social policy to replace the term poverty with exclusion are not fully justified. Social policy needs to maintain both approaches so that it can direct its instruments towards risk groups and prevent poverty to end with marginalization and limited social participation.

  • Issue Year: 2008
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 7-19
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Macedonian