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Between structure and agency: the use of conditional welfare through the lens of social capital

Between structure and agency: the use of conditional welfare through the lens of social capital This article assumes that the theory of social capital can contribute to explaining some of the processes behind decision-making independence and the informal aspects of relationship in the implementation of social policies. To support this theoretical proposition by means of case-based empirical evidence, the article focuses on the implementation of the principle of welfare conditionality, which links the access to income support benefits on the acceptance of job search activities and training. Three comparative cases show that its implementation varies significantly in the different contexts: conditionality embodies a very weak principle in Barcelona, which is not applied in practice; in Lyon it has a symbolic function representing a formality that provides access to an unconditional right; in Gothenburg it is implemented as a stringent and effective proof of activation. Among the many institutional and structural factors that help explain these differences, the article shows that there are also specific forms of trust, group identity and mutual recognition that motivate civil servants’ agency and discretionary choices. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png European Societies Taylor & Francis

Between structure and agency: the use of conditional welfare through the lens of social capital

Scalise, Gemma
European Societies , Volume 25 (2): 26 – Mar 15, 2023
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References (42)

Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2022 European Sociological Association
ISSN
1461-6696
eISSN
1469-8307
DOI
10.1080/14616696.2022.2137553
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This article assumes that the theory of social capital can contribute to explaining some of the processes behind decision-making independence and the informal aspects of relationship in the implementation of social policies. To support this theoretical proposition by means of case-based empirical evidence, the article focuses on the implementation of the principle of welfare conditionality, which links the access to income support benefits on the acceptance of job search activities and training. Three comparative cases show that its implementation varies significantly in the different contexts: conditionality embodies a very weak principle in Barcelona, which is not applied in practice; in Lyon it has a symbolic function representing a formality that provides access to an unconditional right; in Gothenburg it is implemented as a stringent and effective proof of activation. Among the many institutional and structural factors that help explain these differences, the article shows that there are also specific forms of trust, group identity and mutual recognition that motivate civil servants’ agency and discretionary choices.

Journal

European Societies – Taylor & Francis

Published: Mar 15, 2023

Keywords: Social capital; street-level bureaucracy; income benefit conditionality; active labour market policies; welfare states

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