The ‘Crisis’ and the Role of ‘Social Policy’ A European and Chinese Social Quality Approach

Development Research Seminar Series

For ‘social policy scientists’ a main question may be which policies can adequately address the current ‘financial crisis’? For a specific school of economists the answer is to apply a consistent neo-Keynesian strategy (Paul Krugman cs). What may be the focus of ‘social policy scientists’? In order to explore this I like to reformulate ‘social policy’ into ‘societal oriented politics and policies’, on the basis of the new social quality theory (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). In line with this theory we will also extend our scope. According to e.g. the European Commission, from a societal point of view – confronted with globalization as a new pervasive force - continuing current politics and policies will cause (ceteris paribus) a catastrophe, thus a fundamental crises. Human existence on earth – according to the social quality theory - expressed in its socio-economic, socio-political, socio-cultural and environmental dimensions - will become unsustainable. Indeed, in many cases current financial and economic problems have tragic consequences, but do not cause a fundamental crisis. At the end of the day, the increase of unsustainable conditions on earth will disrupt social justice, solidarity, equal value, and  human dignity, the four ethical standards of social quality. Continuing current politics and policies will undermine human security, for instance as a result of its impulse for migration leading to vulnerabilities and political persecution; it will extra stimulate environmental degradation. The first main question should be which long term strategies (based on new politics and policies, resulting in new forms of governance) are a condition sine qua non for ‘development toward sustainability’? Since in the near future 70% of mankind will live in an urban context we should also ask – with this in mind - what ‘sustainable urban development’ means and how to reach this? The second main question should be what the consequences are of these long term strategies for current ‘societal  politics and policies’. Answering the second question will deliver some arguments to reflect on the global discourse on quality of life, human development, social capital, the capability theory and the role of ‘social policy’ in its classical understanding. We will refer to two examples of endeavors to explore both questions, from Europe (namely in The Netherlands) and China (namely in the Zhejiang Province). Both refer to the social quality approach.

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For further inquiries, please contact Tanya Kingdon kingdon@remove-this.iss.nl