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The aim of the article is to present the functioning of consortia composed of various legal forms of social economy entities. The subject of the research are consortia operating under the brands: "Klunkry", "Panato Bag" and "Juchowo Farm". They include social cooperatives, establishments of professional activity, foundations, associations, social integration centrers and non-profit companies. The mutual cooperation of various legal forms of social economy entities, an innovative management mechanism, and manufactured products are an example of social innovations. Based on the data from the National Court Register, the activity profile, employment level, period of operation, founding entities and the financial situation of the analysed units were examined using the dynamics index method. The research results show that working together is beneficial both financially and socially. All the surveyed entities achieved an increase in revenue compared to the previous year. Thanks to the initiatives, socially excluded people found support and employment.

Two studies explored the relationship between political ideology and endorsement of a range of moral principles. Political liberals and conservatives did not differ on intrapersonal or interpersonal moralities, which require self-regulation. However differences emerged on collective moralities, which involve social regulation. Contrary to Moral Foundations Theory, both liberals and conservatives endorsed a group-focused binding morality, specifically Social Justice and Social Order respectively. Libertarians were the group without a binding morality. Although Social Justice and Social Order appear conflictual, analyses based on earlier cross-cultural work on societal tightness-looseness suggest that countries actually benefit in terms of economic success and societal well-being when these group-based moralities co-exist and serve as counterweights in social regulation.

El estudio aborda la concertación, un análisis de las políticas de seguridad social constatando su evolución desde una legitimidad social a una legitimidad tecnocrática en la crisis del welfare state y en la crisis económica con particular referencia al sistema español. Desde la normalización de la acción política de los sindicatos y agentes sociales en sus diversas manifestaciones, como la participación institucional y la "legislación negociada" en la búsqueda del consenso y el negociado de intercambios en el marco político frente a la imposición unilateral. La frustración de la concertación social se produce cuando el gobierno interpreta la democracia como algo puramente aritmético de mayorías que ejercen sin más el poder, en épocas de debilidad sindical, de debilidad del estado nación, de dificultades para las políticas redistributivas, de reforzamiento de los planteamientos neoliberales. La búsqueda de legitimidad en el pacto social no se ve en estas ocasiones como necesaria sino que la legitimidad se traslada al discurso economicista y tecnocrático, no político. Se vuelve a la búsqueda de una legitimidad a través del mercado y del intercambio entre particulares. ; L'estudi aborda la concertació, una anàlisi de les polítiques de seguretat social constatant la seva evolució des d'una legitimitat social a una legitimitat tecnocràtica en la crisi del welfare state i en la crisi econòmica amb particular referència al sistema espanyol. Des de la normalització de l'acció política dels sindicats i agents socials en les seves diverses manifestacions, com la participació institucional i la "legislació negociada" en la cerca del consens i el negociat d'intercanvis en el marc polític enfront de la imposició unilateral. La frustració de la concertació social es produeix quan el govern interpreta la democràcia com alguna cosa purament aritmètic de majories que exerceixen sense més el poder, en èpoques de feblesa sindical, de feblesa de l'estat nació, de dificultats per a les polítiques redistributives, de reforçament ...

Social protection can be defined as "policies and actions which enhance the capacity of poor and vulnerable people to escape from poverty and enable them to better manage risks and shocks" (OECD/DAC 2009, 10). The term would thus include social insurance, social transfers and minimum labour standards, but for many experts also micro-insurance, commercial insurance and savings plans, traditional solidarity networks and group-based risk prevention instruments.

Social security is one of the most important areas of social policy.As part of its social policy, the government of Lesotho has promulgated various pieces of legislation and introduced an assortment of public assistance programmes for the benefit of the people of the country. There are also various informal social security measures which are the result of coordinated activities by individuals and groupings in Lesotho. These initiatives together provide a broad spectrum of social security provisioning for the people of Lesotho. This article sets out to discuss the said social security provisioning measures and appraises the efficacy of their interventions.Lesotho is a constitutional state.The Constitution of Lesotho came into force on 2April 1993. It provides for a Bill of Rights as well as principles of state policy. There is, however, no express provision in the Constitution for a right to social security. This is regrettable. Thus, the intersection between constitutional law and social security within the context of Lesotho can be achieved only through the interpretation of the fundamental rights as well as the principles of state policy provided in the Constitution. While the provisions relating to fundamental rights help to establish entitlements to social security, the principles of state policy play an important role in giving direction to service delivery.Understanding the link between the various governmental and social initiatives is crucial if interventions are to be designed which will enhance the provision of social security for the benefit of the people of Lesotho.

Social security is one of the most important areas of social policy.As part of its social policy, the government of Lesotho has promulgated various pieces of legislation and introduced an assortment of public assistance programmes for the benefit of the people of the country. There are also various informal social security measures which are the result of coordinated activities by individuals and groupings in Lesotho. These initiatives together provide a broad spectrum of social security provisioning for the people of Lesotho. This article sets out to discuss the said social security provisioning measures and appraises the efficacy of their interventions. Lesotho is a constitutional state.The Constitution of Lesotho came into force on 2April 1993. It provides for a Bill of Rights as well as principles of state policy. There is, however, no express provision in the Constitution for a right to social security. This is regrettable. Thus, the intersection between constitutional law and social security within the context of Lesotho can be achieved only through the interpretation of the fundamental rights as well as the principles of state policy provided in the Constitution. While the provisions relating to fundamental rights help to establish entitlements to social security, the principles of state policy play an important role in giving direction to service delivery. Understanding the link between the various governmental and social initiatives is crucial if interventions are to be designed which will enhance the provision of social security for the benefit of the people of Lesotho.

A review essay on books by (1) Stephen Steinberg, Turning Back: The Retreat from Radical Justice in American Thought and Policy (Boston: Beacon Press, 1995); (2) Todd Gitlin, The Twilight of Common Dreams: Why America Is Wracked by Culture Wars (New York: Metropolitan Books, 1995); & (3) Dinesh D'Souza, The End of Racism: Principles for a Multiracial Society (New York: Free Press, 1995). It is argued that when liberal social scientists attribute the woes of blacks in the US to racism, they err; little racism exists, & most of what does is antiwhite. Steinberg's argument that affirmative action was a success & should be expanded is built on the premise that the only racism in the US that matters is that purportedly perpetrated by whites. Gitlin does slightly better by trying to reintroduce the common man & woman in the place of the person with a particular identity (eg, Native American, gay), but he ultimately contradicts himself by supporting affirmative action. D'Souza acknowledges antiwhite racism; however, his argument that the 1964 Civil Rights Act would inevitably provide preference for blacks is not quite right, as it was only a deliberate conspiracy in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that produced affirmative action. Cultural & genetic explanations of the relatively poorer performance of blacks in US are also discussed. H. von Rautenfeld

In an increasingly digital, interconnected world, social media represents a powerful emergent source of both information and communication. Recent years have seen a subsequent growth in research, literature and various case studies investigating its potential utility within Impact Assessment practice. With variable application and focus within such existing studies, there appears to be limited consensus regarding the value of utilizing social media to facilitate greater public awareness, stakeholder interaction, consultation and meaningful community engagement within the social impact assessment process. While the literature identifies potential challenges and opportunities in all contexts, the empirical evidence suggests that social media platforms are still used predominantly for information sharing by governments and proponents, rather than to foster an open two-way dialogue consistent with public participation. To evolve information and communication proc esses beyond the scope of current practice, it is invaluable for Social Impact Assessment (SIA) practitioners and actors to both recognize and assimilate relevant lessons learnt in other disciplines.

With the passing of the National Rural Employment Act (NREGA) in 2005, the Government of India established a landmark provision that enables communities to act as watchdogs on local level implementation of the Government's flagship anti-poverty program. While the concept of 'social audits' builds on a great deal of experience in the country, the provisions in the Act have not been translated into clear guidelines. As a result, social audits of NREGA have tended to be driven through 'high impact' approaches led by civil society organizations and have been focused on exposing malpractice rather than improving implementation. This paper discusses an initiative by the centre for youth and social development which sought to explore options to activate the social audit process in Orissa. The design draws on the provisions of the Act with a view to developing a sustainable model for the state. The pilot was conducted in six gram panchayats where the various stages of preparation, committee formation, auditing and reporting were developed. The paper highlights the importance of social audits as an instrument to support implementation, and in particular of raising awareness and ensuring clarity regarding the roles of various stakeholders. Taking this process forward demands a long term perspective, based on collaboration between the government and civil society that can develop the capacities of beneficiaries to ensure effective implementation at the local level.

"An Introduction to Social Psychology is a highly accessible and definitive guide, which engages the reader without sacrificing academic rigour -- it informs and engages.This seventh edition, which has been extensively revised and updated, meets the same high standards it has set over the last 34 years. In a field that has grown enormously, the task of presenting clearly both underlying theory and the latest research across 15 substantive chapters is taken on by a series of leading psychologists, each an acknowledged expert in their field. The text contains an updated range of innovative pedagogical features, including helpful summaries of key studies and theories, which will appeal to the student reader, while managing to provide a uniform standard of coverage and clarity across the volume"--