For Dahrendorf, the enlargement of individual life chances is the central challenge of society in... more For Dahrendorf, the enlargement of individual life chances is the central challenge of society in general and politics especially. Life chances can be maximized in civil society. Civil society has the following characteristics: the rule of law, the autonomy of organizations and institutions, and a civic attitude characterized by politeness, tolerance, non-violence, civic pride, and civil courage. Education is necessary for people to be able to seize opportunities in life, so Dahrendorf values education as a civil right. In order for the education system to be able to fulfill its task of increasing individual opportunities in life, it must not be frozen in bureaucratic regulations. In this respect, Dahrendorf pleads for the definition of minimum standards in education by the state, complemented by sponsorship of educational institutions.
The conflict theory devised by Dahrendorf belongs to the classics of sociological theory formatio... more The conflict theory devised by Dahrendorf belongs to the classics of sociological theory formation. It represents a third path between the ‘fixation on revolution’ of Marx and the ‘normative social stability’ of Parsons. From his perspective, social conflicts are not only normal, but also a condition for social development. However, they can only fulfil this function if they are institutionally regulated. On the basis of these premises, Dahrendorf intends to demonstrate the centrality of class conflict in industrial society. During the Eighties, Dahrendorf reformulates his theory of class conflict in a scenario that has completely changed. He states that the modern social conflict concerns life chances, and that the classes originate from the combination of entitlements and provisions.
The main task of society (and politics) is to increase individual life chances. Consequently, Dah... more The main task of society (and politics) is to increase individual life chances. Consequently, Dahrendorf criticizes socialism, both in its utopian and its real variant. He also rejects the interpretation that the transformation of 1989 was a ‘return to capitalism.’ The real existing socialism is a ‘developing country phenomenon’ to modernize the respective societies. Even intellectuals are subject to the danger of being bound by authoritarian regimes, since they were striving in a special way for social recognition and belonging. He formulates the expectation of intellectuals to follow more strongly the ‘inner line’ of trusting in one’s own reason. Dahrendorf analyzes challenges of the profound globalization transformation of capitalism and liberal democracy in terms of “squaring the circle” of wealth creation, social cohesion, and political liberty.
... si basano e che promuovono; c) si sofferma sulla dimensione sociale nella politica europea, s... more ... si basano e che promuovono; c) si sofferma sulla dimensione sociale nella politica europea, sulla Strategia Europea per ... Capacitazioni, lavoro e welfare 35 impiegati come base conoscitiva dei fenomeni occupazionali a livello europeo con quelli relativi alla qualità del lavoro, al ...
Now, as now, the Europe project no longer seems to be able to guarantee and control the process o... more Now, as now, the Europe project no longer seems to be able to guarantee and control the process of integration or to ensure the expansion of individual and collective life chances in and out of the European space. We are in the midst of a profound crisis, which is emerging social and political divisions that defy basic constitutional principles and values, endangering cohesion and social integration. This volume intends to contribute to the scientific and public debate on the challenges of Europe, focusing on four key aspects of understanding the ongoing social changes: solidarity, identity, citizenship and democracy. Using a multidisciplinary approach, it highlights the contradictions inherent in the project so far achieved, analyzing the empirical phenomena that most seem to put in crisis the future of Europe: international migrations, insecurity linked to Loss of social rights, the emergence of new forms of belonging and cultural identities, of populist, new nationalisms and, at ...
Food insecurity is a pressing issue not only in low-income countries and rural areas, but also in... more Food insecurity is a pressing issue not only in low-income countries and rural areas, but also in affluent societies and major cities all around the world. Inequality related to access to food has, thus, become one of the main challenges to the social inclusion model based on social citizenship that is a characteristic feature of European societies. Starting from the multidimensional nature of food security, access to food is considered a necessary entitlement to make social citizenship effective, but this is not guaranteed in European societies. This contribution sets out to analyse the social inclusion/exclusion processes related to the status of food deprivation. This outcome is assessed in terms of social citizenship initiatives' ability to stimulate a demand for institutional change, in a more inclusive direction. This aim is achieved through a comparative analysis of three different case studies of social citizenship initiatives, in three major cities of Southern Europe: Rome, Barcelona and Athens. Since food is not only a means of survival, but also holds multiple emotional, cultural and social meanings, this article showsunder what conditionspeople, participating in social citizenship initiatives, can get social recognition and autonomy which can lead to reconnecting food and effective citizenship.
... comprising this volume, I would like to mention: Franca Alacevich, Mark Bell, Lazslo Brustz, ... more ... comprising this volume, I would like to mention: Franca Alacevich, Mark Bell, Lazslo Brustz, Luigi Burroni, Elena Calandri, Colin Crouch, donatella della Porta, Carlo Fusaro, Andrew geddes, Patrick Le galès, Liborio Mattina, Bohdan Michalski, Enzo Mingione, giorgio Natal-icchi ...
In this article, the objective is to retrace the Dahrendorf’s analysis of the relationship betwee... more In this article, the objective is to retrace the Dahrendorf’s analysis of the relationship between inequality, life chances and social policy. Dahrendorf’s way of conceiving social policy, functional to the expansion of life chances, constitutes, in fact, an original approach to the question of social inequality in terms not only of analytics but also of social and political governance. He considers the problem of inequality in the 21st century a matter of entitlements, not merely of available wealth. To propose the actualization of the Dahrendorf’s theory, we focus on the minimum basic income and the issue of civil rights of citizenship on a transnational/global scale. The conclusions discuss the hypothesis that the expansion of life chances requires a new social policy based on a long-term perspective, the reference to values of solidarity, linked to the ethics of public service, and requires a democratic institutional framework anchored in the rule of law.
For Dahrendorf, the enlargement of individual life chances is the central challenge of society in... more For Dahrendorf, the enlargement of individual life chances is the central challenge of society in general and politics especially. Life chances can be maximized in civil society. Civil society has the following characteristics: the rule of law, the autonomy of organizations and institutions, and a civic attitude characterized by politeness, tolerance, non-violence, civic pride, and civil courage. Education is necessary for people to be able to seize opportunities in life, so Dahrendorf values education as a civil right. In order for the education system to be able to fulfill its task of increasing individual opportunities in life, it must not be frozen in bureaucratic regulations. In this respect, Dahrendorf pleads for the definition of minimum standards in education by the state, complemented by sponsorship of educational institutions.
The conflict theory devised by Dahrendorf belongs to the classics of sociological theory formatio... more The conflict theory devised by Dahrendorf belongs to the classics of sociological theory formation. It represents a third path between the ‘fixation on revolution’ of Marx and the ‘normative social stability’ of Parsons. From his perspective, social conflicts are not only normal, but also a condition for social development. However, they can only fulfil this function if they are institutionally regulated. On the basis of these premises, Dahrendorf intends to demonstrate the centrality of class conflict in industrial society. During the Eighties, Dahrendorf reformulates his theory of class conflict in a scenario that has completely changed. He states that the modern social conflict concerns life chances, and that the classes originate from the combination of entitlements and provisions.
The main task of society (and politics) is to increase individual life chances. Consequently, Dah... more The main task of society (and politics) is to increase individual life chances. Consequently, Dahrendorf criticizes socialism, both in its utopian and its real variant. He also rejects the interpretation that the transformation of 1989 was a ‘return to capitalism.’ The real existing socialism is a ‘developing country phenomenon’ to modernize the respective societies. Even intellectuals are subject to the danger of being bound by authoritarian regimes, since they were striving in a special way for social recognition and belonging. He formulates the expectation of intellectuals to follow more strongly the ‘inner line’ of trusting in one’s own reason. Dahrendorf analyzes challenges of the profound globalization transformation of capitalism and liberal democracy in terms of “squaring the circle” of wealth creation, social cohesion, and political liberty.
... si basano e che promuovono; c) si sofferma sulla dimensione sociale nella politica europea, s... more ... si basano e che promuovono; c) si sofferma sulla dimensione sociale nella politica europea, sulla Strategia Europea per ... Capacitazioni, lavoro e welfare 35 impiegati come base conoscitiva dei fenomeni occupazionali a livello europeo con quelli relativi alla qualità del lavoro, al ...
Now, as now, the Europe project no longer seems to be able to guarantee and control the process o... more Now, as now, the Europe project no longer seems to be able to guarantee and control the process of integration or to ensure the expansion of individual and collective life chances in and out of the European space. We are in the midst of a profound crisis, which is emerging social and political divisions that defy basic constitutional principles and values, endangering cohesion and social integration. This volume intends to contribute to the scientific and public debate on the challenges of Europe, focusing on four key aspects of understanding the ongoing social changes: solidarity, identity, citizenship and democracy. Using a multidisciplinary approach, it highlights the contradictions inherent in the project so far achieved, analyzing the empirical phenomena that most seem to put in crisis the future of Europe: international migrations, insecurity linked to Loss of social rights, the emergence of new forms of belonging and cultural identities, of populist, new nationalisms and, at ...
Food insecurity is a pressing issue not only in low-income countries and rural areas, but also in... more Food insecurity is a pressing issue not only in low-income countries and rural areas, but also in affluent societies and major cities all around the world. Inequality related to access to food has, thus, become one of the main challenges to the social inclusion model based on social citizenship that is a characteristic feature of European societies. Starting from the multidimensional nature of food security, access to food is considered a necessary entitlement to make social citizenship effective, but this is not guaranteed in European societies. This contribution sets out to analyse the social inclusion/exclusion processes related to the status of food deprivation. This outcome is assessed in terms of social citizenship initiatives' ability to stimulate a demand for institutional change, in a more inclusive direction. This aim is achieved through a comparative analysis of three different case studies of social citizenship initiatives, in three major cities of Southern Europe: Rome, Barcelona and Athens. Since food is not only a means of survival, but also holds multiple emotional, cultural and social meanings, this article showsunder what conditionspeople, participating in social citizenship initiatives, can get social recognition and autonomy which can lead to reconnecting food and effective citizenship.
... comprising this volume, I would like to mention: Franca Alacevich, Mark Bell, Lazslo Brustz, ... more ... comprising this volume, I would like to mention: Franca Alacevich, Mark Bell, Lazslo Brustz, Luigi Burroni, Elena Calandri, Colin Crouch, donatella della Porta, Carlo Fusaro, Andrew geddes, Patrick Le galès, Liborio Mattina, Bohdan Michalski, Enzo Mingione, giorgio Natal-icchi ...
In this article, the objective is to retrace the Dahrendorf’s analysis of the relationship betwee... more In this article, the objective is to retrace the Dahrendorf’s analysis of the relationship between inequality, life chances and social policy. Dahrendorf’s way of conceiving social policy, functional to the expansion of life chances, constitutes, in fact, an original approach to the question of social inequality in terms not only of analytics but also of social and political governance. He considers the problem of inequality in the 21st century a matter of entitlements, not merely of available wealth. To propose the actualization of the Dahrendorf’s theory, we focus on the minimum basic income and the issue of civil rights of citizenship on a transnational/global scale. The conclusions discuss the hypothesis that the expansion of life chances requires a new social policy based on a long-term perspective, the reference to values of solidarity, linked to the ethics of public service, and requires a democratic institutional framework anchored in the rule of law.
Modern Approaches to the Visualization of Landscapes, 2020
This chapter deals with a widely studied case, that is, Prato, a middle-sized city with rooted in... more This chapter deals with a widely studied case, that is, Prato, a middle-sized city with rooted industrial traditions, in the Centre of Italy. Prato is a textile industrial district embedded in the so-called Third Italy-an area characterized by the presence of small firms spread throughout the territory, linked together in supply and subcontracting relationships-which, in the last twenty years, has undergone a profound transformation as a consequence of the crisis of textile and immigration, leading to the formation of a large Chinese community. The related changes brought with them problems of social cohesion and sustainable development. The authors address these issues by analyzing both academic and public discourses on Prato. Their basic idea is that common stereotypes act as drivers of a public discourse that prevents the city to renegotiate its identity. The analysis concludes that different forms of hybridiza-tion-particularly cultural hybridization-are occurring, which would need further investigations.
Does European society need a shared culture to create more links and foster integration, or will ... more Does European society need a shared culture to create more links and foster integration, or will it be the diversification and plurality of values that will prove more productive, providing an antidote to autocratic and populist nationalist drifts? What are the institutional conditions for the emergence of a new social and political formation at European level? These are some of the questions that frame this volume, which analyses the different aspects of the European crisis in the light of the question of shared values, not only looking at the processes of division but also at the resources of creativity and cooperation at the social level. The reflection therefore aspires to bring out the signals, and to bring to light the traces of a process that could evolve towards a sort of European Renaissance. Non-discrimination, tolerance, social justice, equality between women and men are among the fundamental values of the European project, yet they are called into question by the many exogenous and endogenous challenges: the financialisation of the economy, environmental problems, new migrations, international terrorism, but also unemployment, poverty and growing inequalities. The need for security seems to have gained a position of absolute centrality in European societies, to the point of eclipsing and overshadowing all other values. However, there is another side to the coin. The crisis sets in motion processes of social mobilisation based on the values of solidarity and the defence of minority rights: particularly emblematic in this respect is the area of reception of migrants and refugees, which has been taken up here as a challenge and, at the same time, an opportunity to rethink the process of institution-building at European level.
The European project no longer seems to be able to guarantee and control the integration process ... more The European project no longer seems to be able to guarantee and control the integration process or ensure the expansion of individual and collective life chances, either within or outside the European area. We are in the midst of a profound crisis, which is leading to the emergence of social and political divisions that challenge basic constitutional principles and values, endangering social cohesion and solidarity. This volume is intended to contribute to the scientific and public debate on the challenges Europe is facing, by focusing on four key dimensions: solidarity, identity, citizenship and democracy. Using a multidisciplinary approach, it highlights the contradictions inherent in the project taken forward so far, analysing the empirical phenomena that most seem to undermine the future of Europe: international migration, insecurity linked to the loss of social rights, the emergence of new forms of cultural belonging and identity, populism, new nationalisms and, at the same time, transnational social movements that are urgently calling democracy into question. The result is a rigorous diagnosis of the social change underway, which helps to understand the obstacles to the evolution of the European project and the scope for action to relaunch it on a new social basis.
Ralf Dahrendorf. Between Social Theory and Political Practice, 2020
This book provides insights into the various methodological and theoretical aspects and critiques... more This book provides insights into the various methodological and theoretical aspects and critiques of Ralf Dahrendorf's work, as well as his reflections on the position of sociology in the system of sciences and in relation to political practice
Uploads
Papers by Laura Leonardi