Understanding Social Science

Key term definition: integration

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:44:17 +0000

Integration is a model of governing cohesion and diversity by which all the members of the community can have full access to the opportunities, rights and services available and can be represented in all social processes. In the context of migration policies, it refers specifically to immigrants in a host society.

Key term definition: creative cities

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:43:18 +0000

Creative cities is a concept developed by Charles Landry in the late 1980s, encouraging a culture of creativity in urban planning and solutions to urban problems. It has become a global movement that inspires a new planning paradigm for cities and it is related to the concept of learning cities.

Key term definition: learning cities

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:41:21 +0000

The term learning cities refers to a new approach to urban development where learning is a key tool for social inclusion and urban generation. Learning refers both to individuals (usually life-long learning) and institutions (awareness to innovation), and strategies are developed through active partnerships and networking between cities, towns and communities.

Key term definition: theory of citizenship (T.H. Marshall)

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:39:02 +0000

T.H. Marshall’s theory of citizenship is a classic liberal theory which considers citizenship as the legal status providing rights and duties to members of a nation-state. Marshall’s theory is based on his seminal essay “Citizenship and Social Class” (1950), which analysed the development of citizenship as a development of civil, then political, then social rights, broadly assigned to the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries respectively. His concept of citizenship has created much dispute, especially because it is a restricted description of citizenship and because this definition does not take into account social inequalities.

Key term definition: social capital

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:36:03 +0000

The term social capital refers to social networks an individual has access to within a community, as a result of their position in the social structure. Social capital allows individuals to have opportunities for collective action and participation in the improvement of the community, but also generates discrimination for the less favourably positioned in the social structure.

Key term definition: welfare services

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:33:42 +0000

Welfare services are actions or procedures that cover the basic well-being of the individuals and the society. They may be provided as a citizenship right, or negotiated in the market, and managed by governments and institutions or private actors. These efforts usually strive to improve the financial situation of people in need but may also strive to improve their employment chances and many other aspects of their lives including sometimes their mental health. In many countries, most such aid is provided by women (family members, relatives and members of the local community) and is only theoretically available from government sources.

Key term definition: governance

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:31:06 +0000

Governance is a way of governing that provides the participation of the whole society. At a local level, it allows more and better coordination and interaction between the city institutions and citizens in decision making processes, and reinforces the role of individuals in social life.

Key term definition: civil society

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:29:51 +0000

The term civil society refers to a set of different actors which constitute the basis of a society and act voluntarily and usually collectively for the interest of the community. It implies a response to the state’s role in regulating social life and represents a new space for social intervention. In some cases, civil society is more institutionalised and inclusive, and in some others, civil society aims to construct a counter hegemonic force.

Key term definition: private actors/business sector

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:28:31 +0000

The terms private actors and business sector refer to individual or collective participants in economic and social life which are not controlled by the state and usually act for profit.

Key term definition: supranational

Surt Foundation — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:25:54 +0000

The term supranational refers to a scale of decision-making that transcends national boundaries as a part of a global transformation of capitalism. This phenomenon transforms the state and implicates civil society actors in policy-making processes.