Social Exclusion and Its Policy Implications - Essay Example

Social Exclusion and its Policy implications Introduction Social Policy basically relates to the periodic analysis of the socio-economic changes in the society and makes appropriate suggestions to the administration so that they can face the challenges of the emerging new society that is distinctly global. Social policies of the states of the world are undergoing dynamic changes due to the rapid globalization. It has brought in a plethora of new issues and new challenges that need to be addressed urgently. People coming from diverse regions, races and cultures have brought in their own distinct personalities and the states are finding it difficult to make available the state benefits to each of them especially under the existing social policies. The role of the state therefore, has become crucial, while incorporating the new developments in the societal changes of the time in their social policy so that state benefit can reach every one. Various discourses The predetermined and the predefined modules of the social changes have not only become outdated and irrelevant in the fast changing social environment, but the urgent need to address the evolving paradigms of the society at large, has become imperative. The various discourses relating to the people who are most vulnerable to be excluded from the state benefits can be broadly classified into three categories like RED or redistributive discourse, SID or social integration discourse and MUD or moral underclass discourse. RED became more emphasized in European Union as Portugal and United Kingdom, both had relatively significant number of people who do not have enough resources to meet the average living standard and hence often were deprived of the state benefits which should have been available to them. To ratify RED, social integration took the form of employment but here also, the marginalised workforce was poorly paid which still made a mockery of so called social integration. The moral underclass discourse was different in the sense that it considered that segment of society that had defied the norms of society and had become vulnerable to the moral and ethical correct societal norms. In United Kingdom, MUD became more popularly accepted after Blair government made special efforts to understand and evaluate the cause and consequences of this class of society in a comprehensive study. Evaluation and implication of the societal changes in the new emerging environment of globalization The wide ranging implications of the multi-cultural societies, as discussed earlier, have brought in an equal number of interlinked social issues and related problems which are increasingly becoming major concern for the state. Apart from the problem of growing population, the state is faced with the problems of rising unemployment, lack of housing and medical facilities and the inherent problem of the different communities to adjust with their new alma mater or their adopted nation. The identity crisis in the new paradigm has flummoxed the immigrants as well as the citizens so that each of them is left with confusion as to the new code of conduct and behavioural pattern that must be adopted for peaceful co-existence. The various governments in the world, especially United Kingdom, have realized that reassessment of the social policies has become a must for peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding among the different communities of the society. They are, therefore, taking special care to understand and include the needs and requirements of people coming from different nationalities and cultures so as to facilitate their adjustment in a new social and political background. One must understand that society of any region or place comprises of people with diverse socio-economic factors due to their different financial status or their individual needs that may or may not conform with a predefined dictums of the society. Hence the minority that may be different from the mainstream population but requiring equal attention may be left out from the normal benefits of the states. The social policies that have hitherto, consciously or unconsciously promoted exclusion of such segments of the society from contributing to the overall development are in the process of evolving new criteria. But the segment, which is more susceptible to the changes and need special focus, is the new emerging ones that are directly related to the globalization and multi-cultural societies, dominating the social scenario. The huge numbers of issues that have emerged as a result of new social equations are highly pertinent not only for the state but the resolution of those issues have become essential for all. The awareness and the understanding of the issues are important so that amicable and appropriate state social policies can be formatted and implemented with equanimity and peace, meeting the needs of different communities and races. Redefined social policy and Social Exclusion One can therefore say that the need for a redefined social policy has risen because of the complexities that have sprung up because of rapid globalization, bringing together people from different cultural background and race and religion. The onus for facilitating their adjustment within the existing social fabric falls on the central and local government. According to Alcock ‘social policy is different to other area of social science such as sociology, economics. However, because it is based upon distinct empirical focus… it draws on the methods used and the understanding developed within these other areas of social science’ (Alcock, pp1). It encompasses ‘range of issues extending far beyond the actions of government - the means by which welfare is promoted, and the social and economic conditions which shape the development of welfare’ (internet). The British Government has defined the social exclusion as ‘what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, bad health and family breakdown’ (The Guardian, 2002). In the last two decades, Britain has seen witnessed growing unemployment, teenage pregnancies, child poverty, drug addicts and hordes of other issues that have moved the younger generation towards criminalization and even prompted them to exclude schools from their agenda! In 1997, the Labour government launched the ‘Social Exclusion Unit’ or SEZ as it was popularly known as, which tried to define the causes and consequences of the people who have been neglected or not properly addressed in the social policy of the state. The problems of the vast numbers of the unemployed youth coupled with the related problems of housing, skill based training, lack of resources to combat the growing criminalization and drug addiction among the youth and most importantly, that of school exclusion that might have resulted due to any of the factors, directly or indirectly affecting them. The SEZ highlighted the causes and consequences of the so called ‘social exclusion’ and identified the main areas that had seen major impact, as its direct result. ‘The unit published a series of reports on five key issues: neighbourhood renewal; rough sleepers; teenage pregnancy; young people not in education, training or employment, and truancy and school exclusion’ (The Guardian, 2002). The report was exhaustive in its details and made efforts to understand and define the reasons that had deprived this class of the state benefits. According to the report, little efforts were made by the central government or local councils to integrate them into the mainstream population or to provide them with the basic services like medical facilities, housing etc. SEZ report claimed that lack of coordination and sincerity in the respective central and local government was mainly responsible for the deteriorating social inequalities among this class that not only deprived them of their rights but also created wider and more complex social problems. The government sincerity in tackling the seriousness of the social issues was apparent when in May 2006, Cabinet was reshuffled to create Minister for the cabinet Office and Social Exclusion which was headed by then Hilary Armstrong. The Prime Minister has said that one of the key challenges facing all government departments is to "underline our Governments commitment to social justice through policies to expand opportunity and tackle the most deep seated causes and symptoms of social exclusion." The lead departments taking this work forward are Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office (internet). One can conclude that the impact of globalization has necessitated a comprehensive review of the existing social policy for the fast evolving societal parameters for co-existence which is becoming pluralistic with issues and factors that must be addressed at the earliest. The collective responsibility of the government initiatives and the society must incorporate the individual values of the people coming from different countries and having different religion and culture. It is imperative that a sustained effort is made, both by the government and the public, to evaluate and understand the changing social equations and thus creating an atmosphere that facilitates easier adjustment for their mutual needs and requirements. Reference Batty, David. The Social Exclusion: the issue explained. The Guardian. 15 January, 2002. 4 January 2008 Introduction to Social Policy. 4 January 2008 . Communities and Neighbourhood. 4 January 2008 . Alcock, Pete; Erskine, Angus & May, Margaret. (2003). Student’s companion to Social Policy. USA. Blackwell Publishing. 2nd edition. pp 1. Read More