Atlas: Towards a Trans-National Framework of Social Inclusion: Using Indicators and Indexes to Inform Accountability by Anthony Hutchinson

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ISTR Sixth International Conference
Toronto, Canada / July 11-14, 2004
Contesting Citizenship and Civil Society in a Divided World

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Towards a Trans-National Framework of Social Inclusion: Using Indicators and Indexes to Inform Accountability
by
Anthony Hutchinson
School of Social Work, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
Coauthors: Dr. Peter Dunn, Associate Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University

Social inclusion has fast become a prominent aphorism in the new millennium. Since its European Union (EU) origins in the early 1990s, a multiplicity of ideas surrounding this concept have emerged on the western side of the Atlantic. In short, social inclusion doctrines have tended to circumvent pre-existing, conflict-based discourses on social exclusion. For example, while many pessimism-ridden perspectives on social exclusion generally evolved from theorists and advocates on the political left (primarily in response to late-20th century policy shifts to neo-conservatism), social inclusion developed as a more optimistic discourse (Askonas Stewart, 2000; Teague Wilson, 1995).

Subsequently, social inclusion found its place in concomitance to liberal and neo-liberal based ideologies that (in contrast to neo-conservative maxims) did not wholly discount progressive or (at the very least) moderately progressive social agendas. Saloojee (2001) suggested that social inclusion was perhaps an even more compelling idea than traditional liberal-based axioms because of its relative utility as both a normative ideal and a transformative tool. Saloojee (2001) wrote: "Social inclusion forces us to go beyond the realm of formal equality and into the realm of substantive equality which is characterized by discrimination, exclusion and inequality" (p.3). Nevertheless, despite, its usefulness as an important critique on exclusion, there still remains the challenge to identify and demonstrate that social inclusion is indeed a viable and feasible policy alternative that may be concretely implemented at national and transnational levels (Klasen, 2001; Novick, 2001).

The focus of this paper is to provide a clear and meaningful framework through which social inclusion may be operationalized, accounted for and evaluated in terms of its relevance, transparency and effectiveness as a transnational policy option. Subsequently, it builds on the work of such notables as Esping-Andersen, Gallie, Hemerijck and Myles (2001) and Hutchinson Drache (2001). In achieving its multidimensional task, this paper is divided into four sections. First, it discusses social inclusion in terms of its relevance and merit as an important policy consideration within a public domain framework in an era of accelerating globalization (Beck, 1995; Deacon, 2000). Second, given its relevance as a timely policy strategy, it proposes an operational framework of accountability that could in turn inform subsequent policy discussions on social inclusion. Here, it addresses some of the normative and pragmatic issues that should be understood to effectively actualize social inclusion as a viable and meaningful transnational policy consideration. Third, it considers the development of a comprehensive social inclusion index that can assist policy-makers in evaluating social inclusion-based policies. In short, it recapitulates the progress to date in developing such an index and reflects on what still needs to be accomplished to complete such an endeavour in terms of statistical operations and procedures to shore up the reliability, validity and credibility of such an instrument.

Fourth, it reflects on several implications that may arise when using social inclusion as a transnational policy model. Here, it explores social inclusion in reference to an overarching index of social inclusion. While this index could indeed be used to compare social inclusion across countries, between trade regions and to evaluate within-state performances over time, ultimately it can help make more transparent and tangible the idea of social inclusion as a feasible, dynamic and compelling policy framework. In short, such an index can prove to be a timely and strategic resource for civil society and non-governmental organizations in a period where issues of accountability and transparency are at the forefront of many civil society discourses (Boyer, 2002; Bertelsmann Foundation, 2002).

References

Askonas, P. Stewart, A. (2000). Social inclusion: Possibilities and tensions. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Beck, N. (1995). Excelerate: Growing in the new economy. Toronto: Harper Collins.

Bertelsmann Foundation. (2002). Transparency: A basis for responsibility and cooperation (Results of the international survey). Gütersloh, Germany: Bertelsmann Foundation Publishers (Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press).

Boyer, P. (2002). Just trust us: The erosion of accountability in Canada. Toronto, ON: Dundurn Press.

Deacon, B. (2000). Globalization and social policy. Geneva: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.

Esping-Andersen, G., Gallie, D., Hemerijck, A. Myles, J. (2001). A new welfare architecture for Europe? Report submitted to the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. Italy: University of Trento.

Hutchinson, M. Drache, D. (2001). Measuring environmental inclusion in the western hemisphere: Does economic growth foster a sustainable environment? Toronto: Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies. Online at: http://www.robarts.yorku.ca/pdf/2001hsi_index.pdf

Klasen, S. (2001). Social inclusion: Foundation of a national policy agenda. Conference paper presented at A New Way of Thinking? Towards a Vision of Social Inclusion (Nov. 8-9, 2001), Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ottawa, Canada.

Novick, M. (2001). Social inclusion: The foundation of a national policy agenda. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Council on Social Development. Online: http://www.ccsd.ca/subsites/inclusion/bp/mn.htm

Saloojee, A. (2001). Social inclusion, citizenship and diversity. Conference paper presented at A New Way of Thinking? Towards a Vision of Social Inclusion (Nov. 8-9, 2001), Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ottawa, Canada.

Teague, P. Wilson, R. (1995). Towards an inclusive society. In Democratic DialogueReport No. 2, Social exclusion: Social inclusion. Belfast, UK: Democratic Dialogue.

Date received: October 10, 2003