LIST OF PANELS

The world is undergoing a process of intense and profound transformation, leading to radical changes across various dimensions of existence – environmental, socioeconomic, sociocultural, and political (Brugué, Ubasart, and Gomà, 2022). In a scenario marked by deep transitions, traditional approaches to social welfare prove insufficient to address the new configurations of vulnerability and exclusion.

This context of uncertainty, instability, and the failure of old models reveals the limitations of unilateral or fragmented responses to complex problems. There is a disconnect between the magnitude and nature of contemporary issues—complex in essence (Alford & Head, 2017; Noordegraaf, 2019)—and outdated forms of addressing them.

In moments of paradigm crisis or misalignment, there arises an opportunity to introduce emerging perspectives and new frameworks to shape desired transformations in social protection and the fight against social inequalities. How can we weave social citizenship beyond the traditional welfare state? This question emerges as we reflect on the foundations of protection and social citizenship for a new era.

We argue that these new issues, reflective of an era of transition, can no longer be framed or viewed solely from a positivist, objectivist, or predominantly rational perspective. A systemic approach is required (Nguyen et al., 2023; Douglas et al., 2020), alongside interpretative, discursive, and critical perspectives in the policy-making processes. It is necessary to incorporate elements from critical public policy studies (Boullosa, Peres, and Bessa, 2021; Fischer, 2016) to alter our cognitive and normative frameworks, allowing us to more comprehensively understand and respond to contemporary phenomena.

Bringing an axiological dimension to the reflection on policy models, alongside an argumentation-centered approach, can help overcome the rational-technocratic-empirical approach that has dominated the debate on social protection. Moreover, from a broader viewpoint and renewed perspective of cross-sectoral collaboration, we can consider viable paths for the transition we are experiencing.

This panel aims to foster an international and interdisciplinary dialogue, highlighting the importance of critical perspectives to confront contemporary challenges. Through an approach that emphasizes cross-sectoral collaboration and inclusion, we seek to build a repertoire of public policies and practices that resonate with the profound transformations reshaping the global social landscape.

References

ALFORD, John; HEAD, Brian. Wicked and less wicked problems: a typology and a contingency framework. Policy and Society, [s.l.], v. 36, n. 3, p. 397-413, 2017. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2017.1361634.

DOUGLAS, Scott et al. Understanding collaboration: introducing the collaborative governance case databank. Policy and Society, London, v. 39, n. 4, 2020. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14494035.2020.1794425.

NOORDEGRAAF, Mirko et al. Weaknesses of wickedness: a critical perspective on wickedness theory. Policy and Society, London, v. 38, n. 2, 2019.

NGUYEN, Le-Khanh-Ngan; KUMAR, Cecilia; JIANG, Bowen; ZIMMERMANN, Nici. Implementation of systems thinking in public policy: a systematic review. Systems, Switzerland, v. 11, n. 64, 2023. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11020064.

BRUGUÉ, Q., UBASART, G. and GOMÀ, R. "Facing uncertainty, projects and democracy," in Blanco, A., Chueca, A., López Ruiz, J. A., and Mora, S. (eds.), Spain Report 2022. Madrid: J. M. Martín Patino Chair of the Culture of Encounter, Pontifical Comillas University, 2022.

BOULLOSA, Rosana de Freitas; Peres, Janaina Lopes Pereira; Bessa, Luiz Fernando Macedo. Inside the Field: A Reflexive Narrative of Critical Studies in Public Policy. Revista Organizações & Sociedade, 2021, 28(97), 306-332.

FISCHER, F. What is critical? Connecting policy analysis to political critique. Critical Policy Studies, 10(1), 95-98, 2016.

We are living through an era of radical changes across all spheres of public and private life.  This panel seeks to provide a space for interdisciplinary and critical debate on the foundations for reconfiguring social protection in a context of growing social and environmental complexity.

In moments of paradigm crisis or misalignment, there arises an opportunity to introduce emerging perspectives and new frameworks to shape desired transformations in social protection and the fight against social inequalities. How can we weave social citizenship beyond the traditional welfare state? This question emerges as we reflect on the foundations of protection and social citizenship for a new era.

We therefore invite submissions that explore new forms of social protection and citizenship, capable of responding to emerging vulnerabilities and the challenges posed by global transitions.

We welcome contributions that address both theoretical analyses and empirical studies, exploring innovations in public policy and interdisciplinary approaches to social protection that can respond to emerging inequalities and promote social justice in a world in transition.

Suggested Themes

To support a cohesive discussion, we encourage submissions that address one or more of the following guiding themes:

- New Configurations of Social Citizenship and Well-being: Analyses of emerging models and experiences aimed at inclusion and justice across various domains and scales.

- Cross-sectoral Strategies for Public Policy: Studies on collaborative governance experiences, with a focus on integrating social, economic, and environmental dimensions to address inequality, complex issues, and social risks.

- Responses to Precarity and Exclusion: Reflections and studies on public care networks, policy co-production processes, and social innovation initiatives.

Guiding Questions

To foster a cohesive discussion, we suggest that submissions address one or more of the following questions:

- What governance models and concepts are needed to foster collective action and build social protection architectures suited to the 21st century?

- What are the possibilities for (re)constructing social citizenship in contexts of uncertainty and complexity?
How can critical and cross-sectoral approaches contribute to the formulation of more inclusive and adaptive public policies to meet current challenges?

- What processes and devices create connections, build bonds, and provide protection? Which ones foster disconnection, destitution, and vulnerability? How can we prevent and rebuild weakened bonds?

- Studies on the idea of proximity and territory as foundational elements for an innovative conception of public goods and services, connecting with everyday life.

- How can the collective, community, and territorial dimensions foster innovative participatory dynamics, with a deliberative and emancipatory character, promoting a critical and expanded citizenship?
 

We are seeking submissions of a qualitative nature, including case studies, policy analyses, and essays that explore the themes outlined in this call for papers. This focus on qualitative approaches aims to foster a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the issues at hand, capturing the complex dynamics that are often better illuminated through context-rich and interpretative methods.

Qualitative research, especially case studies and policy analyses, is essential for addressing complex themes such as social protection, intersectoral approaches, or practices to address vulnerabilities, providing insights and nuanced perspectives that quantitative approaches may not fully capture. We particularly welcome contributions that employ these methodologies to provide new perspectives, advance theoretical debates, or illustrate applied approaches that can be generalized or adapted to similar contexts.