The risks of social exclusion. An empirical analysis of uncertain life situations and chances of social participation (PhD-Dissertation)

In recent times politics and science have used the term social exclusion to describe the risk of certain social groups of being excluded from participation in social life. Social participation in this context is widely defined to include economic, social, cultural and political aspects. Uncertain working conditions and unemployment are key parts of this process, although there is as yet no consensus on definitions and dimensions of social exclusion, and empirical verification is still under way. In its methodology, the project attempts to work empirically with the concept of social exclusion; the aim is to examine crucial aspects of the discussion on exclusion such as polarisation of social structures, vulnerability of the middle classes of society, accumulation of social discrimination, and low chances of participation in precarious life situations. The project is based on the assumption that indicators of subjective experience of exclusion have not been adequately taken into account by empirical research. It will demonstrate who is affected by the risk of social exclusion in both East and West Germany, and how relevant certain types of discriminations are in generating a feeling of exclusion in different social groups. Here the crucial question is what kind of social structures allow the transformation of objective life situations into subjective experiences of exclusion. This implies an extensive look at the relevant social science theory and at the common usage of the concept of exclusion in politics and science. The starting point for the analysis is recent research that stresses the necessity of a multi-dimensional and dynamic approach to poverty and discrimination.