Rethinking the European Social Model: New Social Risks, New Social Values and New Policy Paradigms
Rethinking the European Social Model: New Social Risks, New Social Values and New Policy Paradigms

Author(s): Georgeta Ghebrea
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Political Theory, Politics and society
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: European Social Model; Social Values; Immigration Attitudes; Economic Crisis; Reform
Summary/Abstract: The crisis of the European Social Model (ESM) was discussed mostly from economic, demographic and institutional perspectives. The new social risks, the changes in values and lifestyles of European citizens were less addressed. However, the legitimacy of the ESM is based on a set of common social values, which were a European “brand”, a source of pride and prestige, both for European citizens and elites. This paper intends to find out if and how these values have been affected by recent economic and migration crises. Our focus is the axiological change in public opinion and in social policy. The research uses statistical and document analyses. Main sources are the European social survey, social statistics and recent changes in the social acquis. The research results show a process of erosion of specific European social values. The community of values between the European nations diminished and the diversity is growing. ESM has to answer these mutations – not to be limited to minimum social standards or to the generalization of best practices of national social policies – but to truly represent a supranational level of social policy, effectively adjusted to globalization and to citizens’ expectations.

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