Field Of Social Policy Research Articles

Política social de Assistência Social e a garantia de direitos sociais: entre ambiguidades e contradições

The field of Social Policies, with special attention to Social Assistance, continues to be a subject of investigation in the peripheral areas of capitalist centers. This study aims to explore the contradictions present in the interaction between social assistance policies and social rights. To this end, it adopts an approach that conceives of social policy as a process influenced by the historical conditions of capitalism and class struggles. It highlights the determining role of the state and capitalism in the formulation of social policies and their incorporation into the realm of social rights, especially in the Brazilian context, where only since the 1988 Federal Constitution has social assistance become a state policy, assuming responsibility for guaranteeing and providing social rights and social protection. The aim of the article is to problematize the perspective of rights in the Brazilian capitalist state and in the National Social Assistance Policy (PNAS), proposing an analysis of a materialist-historical-dialectical nature. The text adopts the structure of a theoretical essay, beginning with a reflection on the capitalist state and social policies, and then addressing the interrelationship between the state, law and social policies, characterized by contradictions inherent to the preservation and perpetuation of capitalism. The conclusion is that the reasons for the state's difficulty in guaranteeing social rights lie in the fact that the relationship between the state, law and social policies is marked by contradictions, since social assistance seeks to guarantee rights in the legal system, which, in turn, are also geared towards the maintenance and reproduction of capitalism.

The loneliness barometer 2024: methodology and selected results

Loneliness is arelatively new topic in the field of health and social policy. Apivotal requirement for the formulation of effective policies addressing loneliness in Germany lies in the access to comprehensive, longitudinal data.In 2024, the first "Loneliness Barometer" was conducted by the Loneliness Network Germany (KNE) at the Institute for Social Work and Social Pedagogy e. V. (ISS e. V.) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). It is areport on the long-term development of loneliness within the German population (18years and older), for which representative data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP, 1992-2021) were analysed. The loneliness barometer is also intended to provide evidence-based statements on the long-term development of loneliness burdens in Germany in the future.This article provides an insight into the decisions made in the development of the Loneliness Barometer methodology and presents selected key findings from the first Loneliness Barometer. Leveraging data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), the Loneliness Barometer underscores the multifaceted disparities faced by individuals grappling with heightened loneliness levels. These disparities manifest across various domains: diminished health outcomes, constrained social and financial resources encompassing education and employment, reduced economic participation, curtailed political engagement and heightened scepticism towards democratic institutions. The article concludes with considerations of the limitations and future development possibilities of the Loneliness Barometer.

International actors and national policies: the introduction of the national care system in Uruguay

This paper aims to understand coalition building between national and international actors in the context of an emerging subsystem. In applying the Advocacy Coalition Framework to the case of Uruguay, where a new field of social policy – the National Care System – was introduced in 2015 after a process involving different national actors from academia, civil society, politics, and administration, but also United Nations agencies, the paper explores the role of these international organizations in coalition building, and examines how a dominant coalition of national and international actors shaped the development of the new system. Using interview data and documents, the findings suggest that the involvement of international organizations in the coalition was based on shared beliefs and personal and institutional relationships. While powerful opposing coalitions were absent due to the nascent nature of the subsystem, the dominant coalition was able to influence the policy’s introduction based on their beliefs regarding gender equality and rights.

Other Sexuality: A Study of the Discourse of LGBTQ Sexuality and the PLUSH Community in the Special Region of Yogyakarta

The purpose of this research was to find out the experiences of informants with regard to their sexuality and to look at the role of PLUSH in the discourse of 'non-normative' sexuality in Indonesia, more specifically Yogyakarta. This research method is a qualitative research with a'mini' approach to discourse analysis by Foucault, research informants, data collection techniques (interviews, literature studies, documentation, and other media sources), data presentation, and triangulation. The data used came from primary data, namely interviews with the five informants (Bhista (30), Shamil (37), Nakula (35), Abimanyu (23) and Rangga (26), as well as secondary data from reliable sources (documentation from the media, literature, and others). The results of this study are as follows: (1) a world dominated by heteronomous concepts, where general discourse tends to corner non-binary sexuality, as experienced by members of the PLUSH, an LGBTQ advocacy organization. (2) The research contributes to the fields of community empowerment, social movements, LGBTQ studies, and social policy by providing a platform for marginalized voices and documenting new social movements. (3) The research is based on the theory of panopticon prison theory, which is used to describe the experience of the informants in exploring and fighting for their sexual identity in the context of a dominating discourse. It is hoped that further research can involve informants from various sexual orientations such as asexual and bisexual, to provide a more comprehensive picture of non-heteronormal sexuality discourse.

AN OVERVIEW OF ELDERLY CARE TECHNICIANS IN ELDERLY CARE SERVICES AS A SOCIAL POLICY FIELD

Abstract As in the rest of the world, in Turkey, the ageing population has become an issue that needs to be focused on. Elderly care service includes a social, economic and psychological process. Social policy, elderly care services are carried out by nursing and daycare homes. However, since placing elderly individuals in nursing homes is not a widely accepted approach under the traditional family structure in Turkey, care services are primarily provided in the elderly person's own home or their children's. In addition, the participation of women in working life mainly results in the elderly individuals at home being cared for by a newcomer woman, and this care service is often carried out by people who have not received the necessary training in elderly care and often by foreign national employees; accordingly, the care that should be supplied to the elderly is not provided proficiently. Particularly in the present, the lack of sufficient quantitative health professionals to meet the increasing elderly population causes deficiencies in providing the necessary care. Considering that this deficiency can be met at the technician level, geriatric care technician training programmes are being initiated, and the gap in this field is being filled with trained personnel shortly.

Money and values in couples: a cross-welfare system comparison of gender values

PurposeMoney management practices among couples from 27 countries were studied to understand how they reflect egalitarian values. The welfare system was used as a classification criterion, to account for the distinct socio-political contexts in which couple relationships are formed.Design/methodology/approachThe data are sourced from the 2012 Survey on Family and Changing Gender Roles of the International Social Survey Programme. The analytical strategy used has been binary logistic regression.FindingsThe results demonstrate that participation of the woman in the household economy and financial decision-making indicates higher levels of egalitarian values in the couple. Couples who distinguish between a common fund and individual funds demonstrate more egalitarian values than those who have only a common fund. Besides, symmetry in the couple in terms of the income level of each partner increased the probability of having more egalitarian values. Greater equality was found among couples who resided in countries with a Mediterranean welfare system.Originality/valueThe paper makes an original contribution to the field of sociology and social policy by focus on couples' money management and improve understanding of the finance-well-being nexus.

The influence of the ideas about human nature on attitudes towards charity in conservatism

This article analyzes approaches to the problem of charity and human nature that have developed within conservative political philosophy. The study analyses the philosophical and religious ideas which constituted the foundation for the categories, conceptions and key values of conservatism. An overview of the historical context and organizational principles in philanthropy is also provided. The study is based on texts by representatives of conservative political philosophy of the 19th–20th centuries, analysis of charitable practices, and analysis of institutions in the field of social policy. Conservative political philosophy generally encourages charity, but due to the different perceptions of human nature within conservatism, divergences arise between thinkers who can be divided into liberal conservatives and paternalists. The first group of contradictions is related to the perception of the personality of the recipient of assistance. Liberal conservatism most often relies on Protestant arguments and perceives poverty as a problem that requires a solution and associates it with character defects. Paternalistic conservatism retained the idea of an “economy of salvation” from Catholicism, when the poor repaid the rich with prayers for help, and saw poverty as a form of social service and, therefore, an option for the complete development of the individual. The second group of contradictions is related to the perception of the personality of the benefactor. According to the paternalistic interpretation, charity is considered a targeted service and a means for consolidating hierarchical relationships. In liberal conservatism, attention is paid to the problem of human propensity for evil, and, consequently, to the question of organizing charity through mechanisms that would minimize arbitrariness. Both approaches are primarily concerned with the protection of order and property, and differ both from liberalism, which speaks of freedom of contractual relations between autonomous individuals, and from socialism, which expects that changes in property ownership will change the human nature and eliminate the need for private charity.

Kraje Unii Europejskiej a ubóstwo, przed i po kryzysie COVID-19

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate and present the position of the European Union countries according to the poverty level before and after the COVID-19 crisis, combining five individual indicators. The GRA (Grey Relational Analysis) method was used to calculate the composite poverty indicator. To assess poverty, the study uses criteria from the official database of the European Commission and calculates the aggregate index for 2019 and 2022. All criteria in the model have the same relative importance because the method of equal weight coefficients is applied. The paper proved that the Czech Republic and Slovenia had the most favourable indicators of poverty in both periods, while Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Latvia occupied a critical position. In general, the countries of Southern Europe and the Baltic countries have poor poverty indicators. Compared to 2019, according to the country rankings, the poverty level is significantly higher in Finland, Germany, and Hungary, while after the pandemic, the following countries made considerable progress in reducing poverty: Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Cyprus. The presented results can be useful to decision-makers at the macro level in the field of economic, social, and sustainable development policy.

Військові виплати: поняття та адміністративна проблематика воєнного часу

This article examines the system of military benefits in Ukraine, focusing on their structure, scope, and impact on military personnel and their families. In particular, the different types of military payments, such as salaries, allowances for special conditions of service, disability compensation and pensions, are examined. Changes in legislation on military benefits and their compliance with international standards are also analyzed. It emphasizes the importance of adequate financial support for the military to maintain their combat readiness and morale. A detailed analysis reveals what factors influence the level of military payments, including budgetary constraints, the economic situation in the country, and the army’s need for modern weapons and equipment. The article also examines the effectiveness of the system of payments in providing social protection to military personnel and their families, as well as the possibility of ensuring an adequate standard of living after retirement. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion of what improvements can be made to the military pay system to make military careers more attractive and ensure stability in the military. The article also analyzes the role of military payments in maintaining military discipline and motivation of personnel. In particular, the article discusses the timeliness and regularity of payments, their correspondence to the actual living expenses of the military, as well as the possibility of receiving additional incentives for length of service, military ranks or special tasks. Finally, the article highlights the prospects for further development of the military pay system in Ukraine and the importance of improving this system in order to ensure national security and defense capability. The article also addresses the urgent problem of social security for military personnel in the context of armed conflict. The author analyzes the current state of payments to military personnel, including salaries, additional remuneration and compensation. The main focus is on legislative changes that have taken place in recent years and their impact on the welfare of the military. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of recent legislative initiatives aimed at improving the social protection of military personnel. The provisions of the new laws and regulations governing payments, as well as their effectiveness and impact on the motivation of the military are examined in detail. The article also analyzes the problems of implementing these laws in practice, including bureaucratic obstacles and insufficient funding. The article concludes that the military pay system needs to be further improved, emphasizing the importance of timely and fair financial support for military personnel as one of the key factors in maintaining the army’s combat capability and morale. The author offers recommendations on possible areas for reforming the payment system, including the introduction of new mechanisms for controlling and ensuring transparency of financial flows. The article is important for researchers in the field of social policy, military experts, and those involved in the process of formulating and implementing state policy in the field of defense. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the problems and prospects for the development of the social security system for military personnel in Ukraine, which is an important aspect of ensuring national security and stability of the state.

New agendas and old legacies? Comparing international organisations’ proposals on health and long-term care systems in Latin America

The way in which international actors formulate proposals for reforming or establishing public social policies not only varies between different organisations but is also dependent on the policy field in question. This article compares the positions of two international organisations (IOs), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), on the two related social policy fields of health and long-term care in Latin America. We apply qualitative document analysis to reports and strategy articles published by ECLAC and PAHO between 2000 and 2015. The analysis finds that despite some similar proposals by both organisations, there are also clear differences between their positions depending on the policy areas. While both organisations see the need to establish healthcare and long-term care as a human right, they have different ideas on targeted and universal approaches. Moreover, with long-term care as a new and emerging policy field, there is still much more variation in how the IOs address the topic, while proposals on healthcare are shaped by previous debates at international and regional levels.

The challenges of universal access to water: some contributions to the sustainable management of water resources in rural areas

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, highlighted as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all, including vulnerable groups, considers water a human right and advocates for its universalization. Thus, the article aims to o point out, in the field of public, social and governmental policies, assumptions for the sustainable management of water resources in rural areas or for territorially vulnerable populations. The article is based on a qualitative and descriptive methodology, using bibliographic and documentary data to analyze socioeconomic practices and public policies in water resources management. It explores the conceptual framework of the Social and Solidarity Economy and its link with sustainable territorial development, highlighting the importance of community participation and collaboration in water management. The authors suggest that shared or cooperative management of water resources is one way to address environmental, economic, and social challenges. In conclusion, shared management of water resources can solve environmental, economic, and social challenges in rural areas and vulnerable populations, promoting sustainable territorial development.

A METHODOLOGICAL LOOK AT THE RECENT HISTORY OF THE SOCIAL POLICY DISCIPLINE

This research has been discussed in order to shed light on the recent history of the social policy discipline. In this context, it is aimed to methodologically examine the studies published in the field of social policy in recent years, to reveal their current situations and trends, to contribute to new road maps and social policy literature for researchers. In the research, the document analysis technique, one of the qualitative research method patterns, was used. The scope of the research consists of a total of 226 articles published in the Journal of Social Policy Conferences, between 2011 and 2013. Articles within the scope of the research; Type, method, sample size, sample group, data collection tools, data analysis and keywords will be systematically analyzed. The findings obtained by using percentage and frequency values in the analysis of the data will be presented with tables and figures.

Priorities of Russia's social policy in the context of global social changes

The relevance of the topic chosen by the authors is determined by the very fact of global changes in the established social order taking place in the world, which create serious risks for the "welfare state" formed in the West after the Second World War. There is a transformation of the basic principles of the modern welfare state – the principles of social solidarity and social justice, the external and internal conditions for the modern state to perform its social functions are becoming more complicated. The ongoing global social transformations fully affect Russian society, especially since it was Russia that acted as their catalyst. Their socio–economic consequences for Russia are ambiguous. The purpose of this work is to analyze the identification of priorities of social policy in modern Russia in conditions associated with both risks and new opportunities in the context of global social changes. The main methodological basis of the research is theoretical scientific methods and a systematic approach. The interdisciplinary nature of the research within the framework of the identified issues requires the involvement of both the results of sociological research and a significant amount of data from domestic and international economic statistics. It is emphasized that in the field of social policy, which is initially based on the principles of redistribution of resources through the budget system, there are no solutions that provide all Russians with prospects for economic and social well-being. Given the complexity of developing universal government solutions capable of ensuring the realization of the social interests of all population groups, in order to preserve the solidarity of Russians in conditions of instability and resource constraints, it is necessary to identify the right priorities of social policy. Accordingly, the authors analyzed the main problems and prospects in the implementation of the main priorities of the social policy of the modern Russian state: overcoming inequality and poverty, support for the participants of the SVO and their families, family and demographic policy. The authors conclude that when developing and implementing social measures, the Russian state should avoid inflating "bubbles" of social obligations. In addition, it is necessary to keep in mind the limited budget resources and avoid "life on loan". Consequently, the authors substantiate the position on the need to implement the principles of rationality, targeting, and orientation towards solving the most acute social problems of modern Russian society in conditions of limited resources.

Epigenetic science and Indigenous health: key issues and considerations for future research

Environmental epigenetics is a fast-growing field of scientific research attracting interest from key stakeholders in Indigenous health internationally, including researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and advocacy organisations. It is the study of how various external factors, including food, stress, and toxins, alter genetic expression, and could be biologically passed down to children (and potentially grandchildren). This article explores the growing interest in epigenetics in Indigenous health and social policy fields in Australia and identifies the key implications and challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The authors advocate for the urgent development of epigenetic research guidelines in Australia and beyond that centre Indigenous sovereignty.

Multidimensional attitudes scale toward persons with disabilities: factor and exploratory analysis for a Ukrainian version (MAS-UA)

Background: Currently, a topical area of research is the multidimensional approach to both reliable tools and professional interventions aimed at improving the attitudes of Ukrainian society toward people with disabilities in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to study the factor structure of the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS) questionnaire on a sample of Ukrainian students to create an adaptation of the original version (MAS-UA). Material and Methods: The main authors of the questionnaire gave their consent for the adaptation. The Ukrainian version of the MAS was developed using the method of back translation from the original language. The proposed multi-factor structure of the MAS-UA was tested in an anonymous online study of 1619 Ukrainian students.Results: The factor analysis and a parallel exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 5-factor structure for the MAS-UA (the classic domains – cognitive, affective, and behavioral – and two additional domains, negative effects and items concentrated in the factors “Calm” and “Desire to communicate”). These five factors yielded 62.6% of the total variance score. Conclusions: The MAS-UA was developed and presented as a reliable instrument for examining attitudes toward people with physical disabilities. The instrument can be used for the initial assessment when developing prevention and educational programs in the field of social policy, as well as to evaluate their effectiveness. Studies using the adapted version of the scale (MAS-UA) will allow the comparison of results from other countries where other language versions are used.

Analysis of the Social Policy Organization in Post-Soviet Russia in the Context of International Experience

Relevance. The organization of social policy was significantly modified in Russia during the post-Soviet period, due to the transformation of the economic system. Many foreign countries at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries also changed their approaches in the field of social policy, introducing market elements following the example of the United States, as well as responding to demographic changes and economic difficulties. Studying the features and dynamics of domestic and foreign social policy is valuable for consideration of the best practices and problems, for the development of political science and for making decisions.Purpose: show how the preservation of the goals of social policy in Russia after the collapse of the USSR was ensured when its instruments were changed, compare the domestic system with foreign ones.Objectives: to show what challenges did the social policy system face in Russia and abroad, how approaches to solving problems in the social sphere have changed, show the formation and functioning of pensions, the healthcare system, unemployment protection and other social policy measures in Russia and foreign countries.Methodology. The article relies on comparative historical approach, analysis of legal documents, institutions, organizational features and statistical data. The article is based on reports from government departments and analytical companies.Results. Economic and demographic problems at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries create similar challenges for Russia and other countries, but in Russia the impact of these problems was stronger, and Russia also faced administrative challenges. In the post-Soviet period, Russia attempted to reorganize social support along the lines of insurance, but a universalist approach, which involves financing from taxes. The system of social policy in modern Russia does not fall behind foreign analogues in its architecture, scale and efficiency. Its weaknesses are a lot of duplicating benefits, outpacing rates of indexation of social payments and low financing of the healthcare system.Conclusions. Russia managed to preserve the most important achievements of the Soviet period in the field of social security, namely pensions, free education and health care.

Vaikus su negalia ne Lietuvoje auginančių šeimų gaunamų socialinių paslaugų patirtys

Social services aim to provide assistance to a person or family who, due to various problems, partially or completely do not have the abilities or opportunities to take care of themselves and participate in public life. People with various disabilities, especially children, can take care of themselves the least. Therefore, the provision of social services to children with disabilities is one of the welfare state's criteria in the field of social policy. Since the well-being of children with disabilities is inseparable from that of adults, i.e. i.e. the well-being of the families raising them, therefore the provision of social support must be aimed at ensuring the well-being of the whole family. The purpose of this article is to analyze the experience of social services received by families raising children with disabilities in Norway. 6 mothers living in Norway raising children with disabilities participated in the study. Qualitative content analysis revealed that in Norway, families raising children with disabilities are given the opportunity to receive two types of services - monetary benefits and social services. The attitude towards the social services provided in Norway is favorable, families are satisfied with the availability and comprehensiveness of social services, as well as social justice, appropriateness and comprehensiveness. However, families are faced with the availability of some social services, depending on the geographical location, the lack of service providers and their competence to work with children with different disabilities. Keywords: families raising children with disabilities, social services, Norway, personal experiences.

Professional narratives on continued training in the laboral landscape of social education.

Labor consolidation is not a sufficient criterion to abandon the need for the qualification and requalification of professionals, especially in the field of education, which must respond to the uncertainties of society in the light of trends and advances incorporated in pedagogical research. The present qualitative study analyzes the training demands of social education professionals from their own perspective, using their own stories in a semi-structured interview format conducted with), key informants from governmental and non-governmental organizations in southeastern Spain, specifically from the autonomous community of the region of Murcia. According to the results, the most frequent and significant formative limitations are those referred to in the field of social policies, legislative training, administrative processing, specialized work in specific sectors or collectives, and mediation. Similarly, the results reveal fashion themes (mental health, gender) and reiteration of non-exclusive conditioners of social education. These are extrapolable to other areas, such as the increasing bureaucracy and complexity in the proceedings as common places in the reflection of professionals with their own initiative and commitment to their own updating that is associated with a reflective criticism of their own professionalization. The diverse range of responses and subjects, as indicated by the numerous descriptors needed for the categorization and their respective percentages, leads us to conclude that ongoing professional training does not encourage excessive specialization. Instead, it necessitates offering a broad range of training adjusted to the versatility of situations.

Агентность в современном европейском искусстве (2017–2023) в контексте социальных и культурных трендов: проявления и эффекты

“Agency” or active transformative behavior of individuals in relation to the social world remains one of the central concepts of discussion and research for both the social and the political sciences, and for practice in the field of education, economics, culture, and social policy. The current state of societal processes, de-structuration, makes individual agency especially important for both individual and collective well-being. The contribution of art to understanding and promoting agency remains little known in the scholarly world. The purpose of this research is to study the vision of agency issues by representatives of the contemporary European artistic process in the context of social and cultural trends relevant to Europe and to compare this vision with interpretations in other spheres of public life. The authors try to show how initiatives aimed at developing agency originate in the institutional and noninstitutional art fields in Europe; how they manifest themselves and with what effects. The article puts forward a typology of agency in the contemporary cultural process: 1) social transformation; 2) escapism; 3) crisis adaptation; 4) transformation of actor; quantitative characteristics and concrete examples for each type are provided. Particular attention is paid to the concrete forms of agency that the field of art generates, and how discovered cases reflect broader processes in the social life of Europe.

사회정책 결정자의 자세에 관한 탐색적 연구

The purpose of this study is to indentify the postures of the social policy decision-makerwhich require in solving the most difficult social problems such as four hexagrams of hardshipin the Books of Change. For the purpose, this study has used the study framework with theaspects such as the situation of social policy, the behavior of social policy decision-maker andthe prospect of social policy which was explored through revising and supplementing theexisting study framework. The posttures of the desirable social policy decision-maker indentifiedin this study are such as followings. First, the social policy decision-maker must sufficientlyunderstand the situation of social policy. Second, the social policy decision-maker mustpositively use allied experts in order to solve the situation of social policy. Third, the socialpolicy decision-maker must make sure that the inplementing social policy will be succeeded. The Book of Change contains the useful contents about the desirable statures of social policydecision-maker related with solving the situation of social policy. Therefore the Book of Changemust be the human heritage to be newly highlighted and actively utilized in the fields of socialwelfare or social policy.