From social exclusion to social inclusion : theory and practice over two continents

Abstract

The article concerns research in the normative social science and is aimed at making a contentious argument that the conceptual frameworks which underpinned much of the literature and research on social exclusion are rooted in European and Anglo Saxon traditions. As such they ignore the contributions made by people of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The discourse regarding social exclusion and social inclusion could therefore not be only with a Western perspective, but should note that the reality of global exclusion is felt most in the developing world. A second challenge is the marked absence of any discussion on power imbedded in social relations and the disruption of bonds between individuals and society. The third challenge to the discourse is the tepid acknowledgement of racism, sexism and other forms of socially constructed exclusions. The fourth challenge relates to the role of the state. It is argued that the discourse should be adapted to country specific situations and contacts to have policy relevance. The European/Western model should be rearticulated with a more developmental focus that puts global inequalities up front and centre and draws from the global South. The future of the social inclusion debate will depend on the ability to develop a global social inclusion drawing on the intellectual capacities of both the global North and the global South.