Defining Exclusion

The notion of social exclusion is relatively new in the Anglo-Saxon literature but it rapidly gained currency during the 1990s. It was first developed in France by sociologists concerned by the emerging social problems related to the socioeconomic transformations in the 1980s. It refers to the loss of social cohesion resulting from growing inequalities and the return of mass social and economic vulnerability for an increasing part of the population. Indeed, the lack of access of a growing number of individuals to a decent job (or simply a job), income, housing, health service or education and a more diffused feeling of insecurity among some portions of the population goes hand in hand with new opportunities for others who can take advantage of the potential for prosperity. Social exclusion is related not only to a lack of material wealth but also to symbolic exclusion, social deprivation and incomplete participation in the main social institutions (Silver, 1995). It emphasizes the quality of the relationship between the individual and society. An approach in terms of social exclusion highlights the new social question affecting social cohesion which calls for major changes in social policy.