ESA Research Networks
Social Policy
An inaugural meeting of this research network was held at the ESA's 3rd Conference, August 28 1997. Although comparative social policy research is well developed in Europe there is no regular forum for such researchers to meet and exchange ideas. This network aims to fill that gap and ot provide an inter-disciplinary area for the discussion and development of research on all aspects of social policy and social welfare in Europe. This includes both comparative research within Europe and that focusing on the supra-national and global roles of the EU. It encompasses both theoretical and practice-oriented research. Rather than focusing narrowly on public institutions or social problems, the network favours a broad interdisciplinary definition of social policy which focuses on the rationales behind the development and reproduction of social institutions and groups that influence the distribution of resources, status and power in society and hence individual and social welfare. Our research agenda includes the analysis of such 'policies', public and private, in Europe, and their impact on individual and social welfare as well as the nature of human well-being and democratic citizenship.
Aims of the Network
- to provide a European level forum for the development, discussion and dissemination of research on social policy and social welfare;
- to facilitate comparative social policy research, for example, by creating a data base of European researchers in he field;
- to provide a point of reference for social policy researchers in different academic disciplines and to link with the relevant national professional associations;
- to ensure an institutional context for the operation of workshops at future ESA conferences and for organizing research meetings and conferences between European conferences.
Planned activities
appointment of national correspondents to link with the relevant academic disciplines and disseminate information about the network (so far there are volunteers from Denmark, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK);
- creation of a comprehensive data base of European social policy researchers;
- creation of a Web site and an e-mail discussion list (see below);
- organization of sessions at national conferences;
- publication of regular information via the Journal of European Social Policy and national subject newsletters.
Social policy e-mail discussion list
This list has been set up by the network to facilitate interchange on issues of social policy in Europe, including the European Union. It is open to social scientists, including sociologists, lawyers, political scientists, economists, public administration, public policy and social policy specialists and psychologists and others with an interest in policy and policy-making in Europe.
Members may wish to use it to:
- raise issues for discussion;
- seek information from colleagues on social policy developments;
- announce conferences and meetings;
- give notice of publications and research findings;
- request data or advice;
- inform colleagues about new and on-going research projects;
- seek research contacts and partners.
To join, send an email to mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk with an empty subject line, containing the message:
JOIN EUROPEAN-SOCIAL-POLICY firstname lastname
Example: JOIN EUROPEAN-SOCIAL-POLICY Peter Taylor-Gooby
Coordinator:
Alan Walker
Department of Sociological Studies
University of Sheffield
Sheffield S10 2TU
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 114 276-8555
Fax: +44 114 276-8125
e-mail: alan.walker@sheffield.ac.uk