Suchergebnisse

The literature of social class analysis is enormous: wealth differences of the population by percentiles, interlocking directories, membership in elite organizations, and educational institutions attended. The list of possible social class indicators is limited only by the researcher's ingenuity. However, teaching about social class is another story. Discussions with my teacher colleagues and visits to their classrooms reveal that our students are relatively unimpressed (as compared, say, to their enthusiasm for the National Football League) by these mountains of facts. This apathy of our students, themselves members of the lower percentiles, is only partly explained by our American belief in the inevitability of upward mobility of the social classes. Somehow, our students don't connect these impersonal printed sources with their own daily lives.

Formal social security is helpful to the general population, especially during a post-retirement time and when they have been affected in ways that make them unable to work due to medical or physical conditions. About 95 per cent of the people working in the informal economy are not members of the social National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Some of them have formulated social organisations that are offering informal social services. The central argument of this paper is that can we use these informally arranged social security organisations can be used by the relevant authorities to mobilise people to join formal social security schemes. The study uses the private saving theory to answer this question. Through qualitative interviews, data were collected from 14 members, including the bodaboda association, food vending network, and fisheries group, to find the possibility of mobilising social security schemes through these social organisations. Findings show that the national social security fund can cover most informal actors to reach the casual workers through their existing informal groups such as the bodaboda association, food vending network, and fishing saving groups. Since the informal actors have shown significant dependency on and trust their associations, networks, and groups, it would be easy for NSSF and the likes to cover this sector for easy contribution to these reliable social security schemes. It is, thus, recommended that informal economy actors continue to use associations for their income protection; yet, through these organisations, link up with the more reliable national social security funds such as NSSF when arrangements are made for them.

[This book] provides a strong critique of the flaws in the field, developing a sustained argument for a revitalization of sociological theory as an academic discipline. The 1980s and 1990s witnessed the 'cultural turn' - a postmodern rejection of disciplinary knowledge in pursuit of the examination of culture - but here [the author] argues for a 'return' to a sociological theory and method that will facilitate worthwhile social knowledge. Comprehensive and ambitious, the book fuses theory and empirical matter, resulting in a compelling new contribution to the theoretical development of sociology and related disciplines. Drawing on the work of theorists such as Giddens, Mouzelis, Archer and Layder, and on a wide range of readings in contemporary social theory, [the author] explores unresolved controversies and ambiguities in today's sociological theorizing; critically examines four longstanding modes of social scientific thought - reductionism, essentialism, reification and functional teleology; develops a set of post-postmodern postulates and meta-concepts as resources for a multi-dimensional, multi-level (meta) theoretical and methodological framework. This book will interest academics and advanced students of sociology, social theory, social geography and political science.-Back cover

This article is a reflective account of my student experiences of practice teaching whilst on placements during the Social Work Degree. I consider what and how my Practice Teachers and on-site supervisors have been able to teach me about Social Work and Social Work skills and what I have learnt about myself as a person and future practitioner. I look at what, I believe makes a good Practice teacher and how different styles of teaching have enhanced my learning. I reflect on the benefits, under the new degree, of increased days on placement and how this has helped me in applying theory, methods and models which are not always easy in the classroom.At the time of completing this article I am three quarters of the way through my last placement of 100 days. I am undertaking my Social Work degree at the University of Northampton, which has a full time degree course of three years and a part time route taking four years. I am due to graduate with a B.A Honours degree in Social Work in July 2007.

Since the 1997 Amsterdam Intergovernmental Conference a sea-change in the formulation and implementation of European Union Social Law and Policy has taken place in response to the demands made by economic, political and monetary union. The evolution of EU social law is an area which has developed within a process or framework of "differentiated integration",1 not only between the Member States, but also the regions of the EU. Since its emergence in the EU Council's Conclusions of 22 June 19842 the concept of a "European Social Area" has slowly been created by the processes of "Europeanisation"3 of social policy whereby through EU-led processes a "re-nationalisation"4 of domestic policies has taken place. The process is similar to the ideas of "re-regulation" of national law in relation to the basic economic freedoms of the EC Treaty whereby a measure of national autonomy can only be retained through European Community law standards. It is striking how the Amsterdam IGC has led to a definite shift in the paradigm of EU social policy law with distinctive aims, values, processes, new legal tools and new political actors.

Diversos países y regiones de la Unión Europea tras el paso de la crisis han puesto encima de la mesa la puesta en marcha de procesos legislativos que garanticen el acceso a recursos básicos de la población con menos recursos. Los umbrales de pobreza en la unión europea y especialmente en España aún distan mucho de ser adecuados a sociedades teóricamente desarrolladas y encajadas en sistemas de bienestar modernos. Buena parte de la población no tiene asegurados los derechos básicos para acceso a los recursos. Desempleados de larga duración e incluso trabajadores empobrecidos a pesar de estar en situación activa nos llevan a profundizar en las condiciones de la población y la violación de los derechos humanos más básicos en la España de hoy. El análisis de las propuestas de garantías de rentas o rentas, rentas de inserción, rentas básicas en los diferentes territorios nos acerca a una base legal y social que asegure las condiciones mínimas de desarrollo humano en nuestras regiones.

Research on policy impact has focused increasingly on the practical application of social science research. Four roles are outlined -- substantive expert, information processor, change agent, & scholar -- that have helped to increase the potential usefulness of research while maintaining linkages to the academic community. The general nature of these roles is delineated, & specific implementation strategies that need to be pursued as a continuing aspect of the research enterprise are outlined. Balancing these multiple roles presents several analytical & ethical difficulties, but helps to establish credibility in both the scientific & policy-making communities. Modified HA.