In the social sciences, oppositional concepts in which each one of the terms delimits the borders of the other are common. From this perspective, “inclusion” relates to and is defined by the oppositional dynamics of “exclusion” in far more complex ways than those of a mere mutual delimitation. Indeed, the enunciation of a process of inclusion presupposes a previous or potential exclusion. Every form of inclusion – whether in a group, a status, an identity or in a set of practices, values or ways of feeling – always implies an exclusion from other kinds of inclusion, which may be opposed to it or simply just different. Therefore, to assume that an inclusion is relevant, to the detriment of others, is not a matter of fact or a self-evident reality but rather the result of a selection and a negotiation which is based on ethical, political and valuation choices and standpoints. Thematically, and considering that we have lived and live in times of turmoil, strongly dominated by a deep economic crisis and by large movements of migration and refugee dislocation, it is expectable and welcomed that a number of articles will focus on such powerful elements of present-day social reality. However, proposals can cover other topics as well. We believe that a volume on Inclusion would be clearly incomplete if it would not integrate, on the one hand, approaches with a wider temporal depth and, on the other hand, studies on diversified subjects that transcend the most evident particularities of our conjunctural context. |
Our volume proposal consists of an interdisciplinary perspective on citizenship in a time of crisis. Crisis has been a word recurrently used to describe political and social processes in Portugal, Europe and elsewhere, but one that deserves further analysis. Portugal is an especially relevant case to analyze the causes and the multiple consequences of the crisis. This is due to the fact that Portugal has been one of the most affected countries. The goal of this volume is to reflect on the way in which citizenship has evolved in the context of the crisis. The crisis in its various dimensions creates large challenges to the way in which citizenship can be exercised. We aim to present the latest research on political, social and political phenomenons linked to the concept of crisis and citizenship, be it from a political or social dimension. A secondary but far from irrelevant goal will be whenever relevant and possible to take a longer-term and comparative approach, including the European dimension that gained additional relevance given the role of the Euro and the EU in the origins and management of the crisis. We believe that this will contribute to advance scientific knowledge on the contemporary challenges to citizenship. In addition, it also contributes to scientific outreach regarding a very topical issue of great public interest furthering the dialogue between the Institute of Social Sciences and a wider public, by making a more in-depth contribution to the ongoing debate about the quality and nature of democracy in the Twenty First century. |
Sustainability is a concept that has gained prominence in the past few decades, in particular after the 1992 United Nations Rio Conference. The concept has entered into the public debate and political agenda of national governments, inter-governmental organizations (the UN, the European Union), business companies, civil society organisations and even academia, without necessarily existing a consensus over its meaning. Sustainability has been used to classify a plethora of different, event opposing practices, from corporate social responsibility to generating value to shareholders, from green economy to anticapitalistic de-growth, from giving priority to the needs of deprived populations to preserving the resources for future generations. Although conceptual discussions tend to focus on the ecological dimension, sustainability encompasses four interdependent pillars that have equal importance: socio-cultural, economic, environmental, and (quality of) governance. For this volume, we seek contributions that problematize the concept of sustainability on theoretical, methodological or empirical grounds and engage critically with the four pillars of sustainability: socio-cultural, economic, environmental and (quality of) governance. In other words, we wish to attract papers that strike a balance between empirical data (quantitative and qualitative) and relevant, critical and audacious general theoretical questions/debates on topics, such as: climate change, food security, consumptions practices, welfare policies, governance and institutional innovation, human rights and fundamental freedoms, social inequalities, labour relations, migrations and mobility, education, health policies, globalized markets, socio-technical transitions and risk, demographic changes, urban sustainability, measurement and classification issues, multicultural and diversity management. |