Inclusions and exclusions in European societies

Book abstract:

This book is based on contributions to the 3rd International Conference of the European Sociological Association held at the University of Essex in August 1997. The conference, entitled 'Twentieth Century Europe: Inclusions / Exclusions', explored how issues of gender, ethnicity, class and age coloured the restructuring of European Societies throughout the century, and the role of sociology in inclusionary and exclusionary changes. The authors have taken into account insight resulting from the conference to revise their contributions to the book.

The book is divided into three parts. The first, 'Framing Inclusions and Identities in Europe', develops theoretical perspectives on citizenship and belonging. Four chapters provide a framework for looking at aspects of inclusion by rethinking the notions of citizenship and of collective and individual identities. The four chapters are: At the turn of the Centuries: George Simmel then and now; Recombinant citizenship; The narration of difference: 'cultural stuff', ethnic projects and identities; and Becoming a person: new frontiers for identity and citizenship in a planetary society.

Part 2, 'Exclusions and inclusions in work and welfare', focuses on the inclusionary and exclusionary implications of formal work and of the welfare state and provides comparisons among European societies. Chapters are: The paradox of global social change and national path dependencies; Reconsidering the socialist welfare state model; If class is dead why won't it lie down?; and Tackling inequality and exclusion: towards a dimension of active citizenship partnership.

The final part, 'Inclusions and exclusions beyond the nation state: Europe and the world', addresses the specificity of the inclusive processes European integration, and ask to what extent sociology can provide perspectives on Europe as a world region. Chapters are: Conceptualising the process of globalisation; and European processes and the state of the European Union.

The book is academic in content and is aimed at scholars and students. Alison Woodward is Professor of Social Sciences at Vesalius College, the Free University of Brussels. Martin Kohli is Professor of Sociology at the Free University of Berlin.