Inequality and Social Justice in Latin America

Author(s):  
Celi Scalon ◽  
Pedro Paulo de Oliveira

Drawing on focus group research, this study analyzes the perceptions and opinions on class inequality, social justice, and social mobility expressed by youth from Rio de Janeiro whom the authors identify as “middle” and “popular class.” The authors also examine their opinions on affirmative action and the role of state and civil society in fighting inequality. Fieldwork was carried out in 2008, not with the goal of answering specific questions but with presenting elements for reflection in the debate on perceptions of inequality and justice. In broad terms, middle-class youth revealed a more critical, complex, and diverse explanatory repertoire about the causes of inequality in Brazil and the possibility of overcoming that inequality. Lower class youth held a repertoire of more generic prescriptions and expressed greater faith in education and hard work as primary means for overcoming inequalities and gaining upward mobility, thereby linking success or failure to individual achievement.

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAUL HOGGETT ◽  
HEN WILKINSON ◽  
PHEOBE BEEDELL

AbstractThe role of the emotions in the framing of welfare policies is still relatively underexplored. This article examines the role of resentment in the construction of a particular form of ‘anti-welfare populism’ advanced by the Coalition Government in the UK after 2010. We argue that UK political parties have appropriated the discourse of fairness to promote fundamentally divisive policies which have been popular with large sections of the electorate including, paradoxically, many poorer voters. In focus group research in white working class communities in the UK undertaken just before the 2010 General Election, resentments related to perceived unfairness and loss emerged as very strong themes among our respondents. We examine such resentments in terms of an underlying ‘structure of feeling’ which fuels the reactionary populism seen in ‘anti-welfare’ discourses. These promote increasingly conditional and punitive forms of welfare in countries experiencing austerity, such as the UK, creating rivalries rather than building solidarities amongst those who ‘have little’ and drawing attention away from greater inequalities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 510-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Adorjan ◽  
Maggy Lee

This paper presents the findings from a focus group research study on public assessments of the police and policing in Hong Kong. The main findings indicate that while people have generally positive views about police effectiveness in responding promptly to and fighting crime, they have decidedly mixed views regarding stop and search and public order policing. By drawing on the multi-dimensional framework of trust proposed by other policing scholars, we suggest that a useful way to conceptualize public assessments of the police and questions of satisfaction and trust of policing in Hong Kong is to distinguish between people's instrumental concerns about personal safety and crime and their affective concerns about the process of policing and the symbolic role of the police in maintaining a particular way of life. The paper concludes by reaffirming the value of sociologically informed, qualitative policing research that examines questions of police-citizen relationship and legitimacy within a broader socio-political context.


1970 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Grønkjær ◽  
Tine Curtis ◽  
Charlotte De Crespigny ◽  
Charlotte Delmar

Interaction between group participants is considered the distinct advantage and hallmark of focus group research. It is therefore necessary to include the social interaction dynamics in analysing focus group data. Little information is however available on analysis of the social interaction in the group and the analytical outcome for the content of the data. This paper contributes to the discussion of the value of participant interaction in focus group research by analysing sequences of interaction collected recently during a research project. This project utilized focus groups to investigate the perceptions and meanings of alcohol use in Denmark. As a frame for analysing group interaction, elements of conversation analysis were used. The aim of this paper is to illustrate group interaction and its impact on the content of focus group data, and highlight the role and some of the challenges posed by group interaction for moderating the focus group discussion. The interaction analyses led to the construction of four interactional events: Negotiating and constructing normality in interaction, disagreement and/or consensus, homogeneity and the impact on interaction and content, and coming to and making sense of a dead-end (including the risk of hierarchical issues). The interactional events are followed by considerations on the impact they may have on the role of the moderator.


2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Winship ◽  
Julie Repper

This article considers the philosophical underpinnings that have shadowed the emergence of focus group methods as a counterpoise to positivist research design. Examples of the application of focus group methods are drawn from two studies where the voices of marginalized groups were facilitated: 1) focus groups with patients diagnosed with personality disorder; and 2) focus groups with gypsy travellers. In both groups there were varying degrees of coherence in communication although particular attention here is paid to the role of dissonance and `negative dialectics' in the formation of opinion. Data generation in focus groups is considered in relation to group size, structure and clinical techniques.


PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
No authorship indicated

2007 ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Bogomolov

The article reveals the influence of the spiritual and moral atmosphere in the society on economic development. The emphasis is put especially on the role of social confidence and social justice. The author indicates also some measures on improving the worsening moral situation in Russia.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pranam Dhar

Zakat is an important form of religiously mandated charity under Islam. It is the third pillar of Islam. The giving of Zakat is important for Muslims, as this leads to purification of their wealth from all sins. This paper examines the role of Zakat as an instrument of social justice and poverty eradication in society. Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat individually. Generally, this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital, after the needs of the family have been met. One can donate additional amount as an act of voluntary charity but Zakat is fundamental to every Muslim. Zakat is the Islamic contribution to social justice: those who have to give charity share the benefit of their prosperity to those who have fallen short. This is the Islamic approach to remove greed and envy and to purify one's soul based on good intentions. This is the institution of Zakat in Islam. The institution of Zakat serves to eradicate poverty in the community and uphold the light of Islam. Allah says “whatever is paid as Zakat for the sake of Allah shall be rewarded in manifolds”.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
CHERYL HIU-KWAN CHUI ◽  
CHEE HON CHAN ◽  
YANTO CHANDRA

Abstract Policymakers have increasingly embraced social enterprises as a vehicle to create job opportunities for the disadvantaged. However, there is limited research on social enterprises in the context of disability in relation to labour market integration. Drawing on the perspectives of representatives of work integration social enterprises and people with disabilities employed in these enterprises (n=21), this study examines whether and how work integration social enterprises promote inclusion for people with disabilities, and also explores the role of WISEs in enabling people with disabilities to transition into open employment. Thematic analysis revealed three key emergent themes: Cocooned inclusion but not transition; Reinforced normative demarcation; and WISEs as a deflection from institutionalizing proactive disability policy measures. This article argues that, although WISEs were able to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities, their purported function in enabling disabled people to transition into open employment remains constrained by factors beyond their control including prevailing norms and the absence of proactive disability employment measures. This article cautions against the over-romanticisation of WISEs as the primary means to ensure the rights of people with disabilities to participate in the labour market. Implications on disability employment policies in relation to social enterprises are discussed.


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