8th ESPAnet Conference 2010Social Policy and the Global Crisis:
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6. The Crisis and Social Citizenship
The present financial and economic crisis has been tackled by massive financial interventions of nation states. These interventions have partly supported financial organizations such as banks, and partly stimulated production and labour markets. The second family of interventions has, besides various negative consequences (for example unemployment) also supported and developed forms of social citizenships; for example through programs of subsidies of part-time (un)-employment in several European countries.
However, it is also evident, that nation states cannot go on with these types of interventions, because of an increasingly negative financial balance. Therefore, an exit strategy has to be initiated. Such an exit strategy not only puts a stop to the massive financial interventions; it will moreover entail social policy reforms, which contribute to equilibrate the financial balance of nation states, with reductions of social policy programs.
At present, European nation states are starting the exit strategy, and they are formulating social policy reforms which will redress the financial balance. These reforms can either strengthen or weaken the various existing forms of social citizenship in different European countries.
Papers for this stream should present and discuss ongoing social policy reforms with attention to the following points: Will the reforms entail reductions of social policy programs? Are there references to former crises? Will the social policy reform strengthen (or weaken) types of established social citizenship? Which criteria permit to speak of strengthening or weakening social citizenship? Are there significant differences between countries regarding their social policy reforms?
In short, this stream invites papers and reflections on ongoing social policy reforms in various European countries motivated by the present crisis, and the meaning of these reforms in the light of social citizenship.
Conveners:
| Robert Maier | Patricia Frericks | |
| Utrecht University FSW/ASW P.O. Box 80140 NL – 3508 TC Utrecht r.m.maier@uu.nl 003130 2532870 |
Hamburg University Faculty of Economics andSocial Sciences Allende-Platz 1 D – 20146 Hamburg patricia.frericks@uni-hamburg.de 004940 42838 2463 |
Thursday, 14:00-16:00 Room 07, Session 6.
Presentations:
1. Nicole Kerschen: Individualization of social rights and social citizenship: Could the present economic and financial crisis revive the debate in the European Union? [abstract] [paper]
2. Irene Dingeldey: Old and new Divisions of Social Rights and Citizenship in Germany [abstract] [paper]
3. Marina Angelaki: Reforming the Greek Pension System in the Age of Crisis [abstract] [paper]
Contributed papers:
1. Anikó Vida: Right or Obligation? Social Citizenship and Workfare in Hungary [abstract] [paper]
Important dates
17 November 2009 = Call for stream convenors
18 December 2009 = Deadline for stream convenors
25 January 2010 = Call for abstracts
29 March 2010 = Deadline for abstract submission
3 May 2010 = Registration starts
6 June 2010 = Reduced fee application deadline
21 June 2010 24:00 (CET) = Early bird registration deadline
13 August 2010 24:00 (CET) - Deadline for submission of papers
16 August 2010 - Deadline for Registrations and payments
Registration fee is 160 Euros for early birds, 210 Euros for late birds. Central and Eastern European PhD students and professionals can apply for a reduced fee of 60 Euros at info@espanet2010.net until 6th June.
Registration opens on the 3rd May, early bird registration closes on the 21th June at 24:00 (CET).
Theme of the Conference
The theme of ESPAnet’s 2010 Annual Conference is the social consequences of the global financial crisis and its differential impact across Europe. The main questions for consideration include:
How is the crisis affecting already existing inequalities? How are different social classes and groups, especially those in poverty, affected by the crisis? What are the adaptable capacities of the different “worlds of welfare”? Does the intensifying social vulnerability lead to the re-structuring of the programs to provide more security? How far have new programs been developed, and how far have new questions of social policy and welfare been opened up by the crisis?
We would like to broaden the horizon of social policy analysis and see global environmental concerns taken into account: How far are responses to the crisis re-thinking the role of the national and international/global state and the role of the European Union in creating economically, socially and environmentally sustainable societies?