Abstract

SOTOMAYOR, Eva; MERKLEN, Denis  and  GARCIA-DOMINGO, Marta. Social transformation in the Europe in crisis: the gestation of social inequality. Index Enferm [online]. 2017, vol.26, n.3, pp.185-189. ISSN 1699-5988.

In recent decades, European countries have experienced, to varying degrees, adjustment processes of their social policies which, at the same time, should respond to the demands of disadvantaged groups in an increasingly adverse social context. Inevitably, social and health sciences have shown its concern about the way the shaping of these policies affects people who depend on external support and who are unable to manage their lives autonomously. We consider interesting to reflect on the effects and consequences of social transformations underway, supported by the results of a research, through a qualitative methodology based on in-depth interviews with key informants of social policy in four European countries (Germany, Spain, Finland and Sweden). The mail goal was to study the speeches of interviewees directly involved in these problems, social partners and experts who have a particular view of social problems. The results indicate new challenges for existing social welfare systems.

Keywords : Social policies; Economic crisis; Individualization; Status prejudice; Downgrading; Uncertainty.