Social exclusion

The idea of exclusion was ?rst intro­duced by sociological writers, to refer to new sources of inequality in the modern society. Exclusion refers to ways in which individuals may become cut off from full involvement in the wider society. For instance, people who live in a dilapidated housing estate, with poor schools and few employment opportunities in the area, may effectively be denied opportunities for self-betterment that most people in society have. It is also different from poverty as such. It focuses attention on a broad range of factors that prevent individuals or groups from having opportunities open to the majority of the population.

In order to live a full and active life, indi­viduals must not only be able to feed, clothe and house themselves, but should also have access to essential goods and services such as transportation, a telephone, insurance and banking services. In order for a community or society to be socially integrated, it is important that its members share in common institutions such as schools, health-care facilities and public transport. These shared institutions contribute to a sense of social solidarity in the population.

Exclusion can take a number of forms, so that it may occur in isolated rural communi­ties cut off from many services and opportunities, or in inner city neighbourhoods marked by high crime rates and substandard housing. Exclusion and inclusion may be seen in economic terms, political terms and social terms.

(1) Economic exclusion Individuals and commun­ities can experience exclusion from the economy in terms of both production and consumption. On the production side, employment and participa­tion in the labour market are central for inclusion.

Exclusion from the economy can also occur in terms of consumption patterns, absence of a telephone, not hav­ing a bank account etc. Homelessness is one of the most acute examples of exclusion. Christopher Jencks concludes in his book, The Homeless (1994): ‘Regardless of why people are on the streets, giving them a place to live that offers a modicum of privacy and stability is usually the most important thing we can do to improve their lives. Without stable housing, nothing else is likely to work.’

(2) Political exclusion Popular and ongoing par­ticipation in politics is a cornerstone of liberal democratic states. Yet active political participation can be out of the reach of the socially excluded, who may lack the neces­sary resources, information and opportunities to engage in the political process. Lobbying, taking part in rallies, and attending political meetings all require a degree of mobility, time and access to information that may be missing in excluded communities.

(3) Social exclusion Exclusion can also be exper­ienced in the realm of social and community life. Areas suffering from a high degree of social exclu­sion might have limited community facilities such as parks, sports ?elds, cultural centres and theatres. Levels of civic participation are often low. In addition, excluded families and individuals might have less opportunity for leisure pursuits, travel and activities outside the home. Social exclusion can also mean a limited or weak social network, lead­ing to isolation and minimal contact with others. The concept of social exclusion raises the ques­tion of agency. After all, the word ‘exclusion’ implies that someone or something is being shut out by another.

Sociologists have conducted research into the different ways that individuals and communities experience exclusion.  These differ from society to society. The situation of exclusions has also been earlier studies in their extreme forms through concepts like underclass[1] and Lumpenproletariat[2].