Social Eksklusion

et sociologisk blik

Abstract

The article is structured in a first part aimed at understanding the concept social exclusion, including both objective and subjective condi- tions. The understanding of social exclusion does matter for social pedagogy as a disci- pline, and professional social pedagogical and social work with children, youth and elderly people who are at the edge of society or close to become marginalized. Professionals need to know what social exclusion is, including its many forms and multidimensional nature. Against this backdrop, professionals and re- searchers may develop a “conscience of the problem” regarding interventions that make a difference.

A sketch of five basic tendencies of modern society relevant to social exclusion makes the introduction. The shift from classic welfare state to privatization and marketization entails a new concept of exclusion. In the next sec- tion, we trace how to understand social exclu- sion, summing up a working definition of the concept. On our journey, we draw on some of the essential theoretical contributions, which are pointing to social exclusion as a relation of individual and society. This relational un- derstanding, then, implies an exegesis related to the history and development of the concept. Among other things, this section evidences the various and changing understandings depend- ing on purpose for politicians and researchers. Having finished the conceptual discussion, the article presents three themes on exclusion, namely (1) education, (2) poverty and unem- ployment, and (3) discrimination. Eventually,

the conclusion sums up the crucial points of the article.