Social Inclusion: Possibilities and Tensions Book

With the collapse of socialism and the discrediting of the ability of unregulated markets to deliver social cohesion and social justice, there is a widespread recognition of the need for new models of political and economic development. Analyses of social exclusion and inclusion have become central to the subsequent discussion. This collection of essays provides a unique and comprehensive introduction to the relevant issues. In addition to subjecting the idea of social inclusion to systematic analysis from a wide range of viewpoints, the collection offers a variety of practical agenda for its implementation. The project of social inclusion is considered in relation to globalization, unpredictability, egalitarianism, the changing nature of work, cultural plurality, the globalization of media and the difficulties presented by its democratic implementation. The volume poses critical questions about the finality of unregulated markets and about the necessity and scope for nurturing citizenship, democratic co-responsibility and the capacity of individuals and groups to withstand exclusionary pressures in order to imprint a more human and dignifying mark on the societies of the future.