Social Cohesion and Social Capital The Role of

Political Institutions

Marc HoogheSarah Botterman

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Royal AcademyBrussels, May 15th 2008

What is the impact of policy and institutions on social cohesion?Two competing visions:

1. Crowding out (conservative Tocquevillian)Voluntary sphere and self-reliance state intervention

Not supported empirically2. Facilitating cohesion by policy effects

Some evidence on long-term effects

Policy Exclusion

Policy effects on exclusion and income (in)equality- Tax system- Social security

Exclusion = no or limited capacity to develop human capabilities (Amartya Sen/Martha Nussbaum)

Collective goods as pre-condition for human capabilities

Policy Exclusion

Non-discrimination lawExample: voting rights for non-nationals

Political Rights Immigrants

Trust

Policy Networks

Policy effects on voluntary sector:- no crowding out- High level of government

involvement is associated with high level of voluntary engagement

- Downside: homogenous networks? (Mark Bovens: and becoming worse)

- Historical pattern: North-South divide in Europe

Policy Attitudes

Generalized Trust: Causes and Consequences

Corruption erodes political trust. Spill-over effect to generalized trust? (Uslaner thesis)

Downside: no direct link between government performance and political trust

+ Generalized trust diversity?

Policy Attitudes

Basic expectation: stable political communtiy requires shared norms of community and citizenship

Does it require “thick consenus”? (Communautarianism)

Or “thin consensus”? (procedural consensus)- “overlapping consensus” (Rawls)- “constitutional patriotism” (Habermas)

The challenge of creating an “imagined community”

Policy Attitudes

How can policies have an effect on attitudes?

a) indirect: equality, inclusionb) direct: civic educationc) direct: collective ritualsd) direct: public broadcasting systems

Strong, path-dependent country differences (criteria for inclusion” differ)

Basic Questions

a) Can political institutions have an effect on attitudinal components of social cohesion?

b) If so, is this effect indirect? (by promoting inclusion)

c) What kind of shared norms?

Case-study: European Policies

European Union / Council of Europe

HistoryPolicy MethodsFuture?

History of the European Union

Increasing institutional diversity of European social policy with every enlargement of the EU

1950 - 1973: gradually converging social standards1974 - 1983: tendency towards renationalisation1984 - 1994: neo-liberal trend of deregularisation1995 - 2003: return to social integration2004 - … : ?

Social policy methods 21st Century

A Multilevel Setting

Lisbon Strategy (2000)

By means of “Open Method for Coordination”

- framework for cooperation

- benchmarking

Open Method for Coordination

Pro’s1. Stimulates reforms2. Active approach3. Encouraging of national policymakers4. Legitimacy

Contra’s1. Lack of transparency2. Unknown, unloved3. Rigid and technocratic4. Free-riding

Open Method for Coordination

Aim= harmonisation of legislation and

institutions= harmonisation of ideas, visions,

conceptions, knowledge and norms of action

Open Method for Coordination:A common political vision

Questions remain

- Real enlargement or a new Europe?- Soft or Hard forms of regulation?- Social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy?

Council of Europe

Committee for Social Cohesion:

“Social cohesion is one of the foremost needs of the wider Europe and should be pursued as an essential complement to the promotion of human rights and dignity”

Strasbourg Summit, 10-11 October 1997

Strategy for Social Cohesion 2000

“Governments need to aim not only at making the economy work but also at making society work”

Strategy for Social Cohesion 2000

No definition of social cohesionSeeking to identify factors of social cohesion

Strategy for Social Cohesion 2000

Conclusions:

Responsibilities in social security Eliminations of poverty and social

exclusion Operational tools for monitoring

progress in social cohesion

Revised Strategy for Social Cohesion 2004

Social Cohesion:“The capacity of a society to ensure the

welfare of all its members, minimising

disparities and avoiding polarisation”

Social cohesive society: an ideal

Revised Strategy for Social Cohesion 2004

Objectives:1. Reference framework2. Accumulating knowledge3. Facilitate learning process

Participatory approachShared responsibility of all social

stakeholders

Conclusion EU / Council of EuropeSimilarities• Soft regulation• Political vision

Dissimilarities • Guidance• Context

Impact of European Politicies?