Our Children

The main focus of the project concerns fragmentation of the welfare states and its consequences on solidarities. This will be researched comparatively by analyzing diversification of populations and fracturing of structures of participation in different European countries, focusing on empirical cases on labor market participation and its linkages to other forms of participation. The research questions are: 1) Can fragmented forms of community building, social divisions and participation be successful in creating solidarities among diversified groups of people? 2) How could we imagine equality and redistribution of welfare in conditions of fragmentation? 3) What can then be the new forms of solidarity which are not based on states, citizenship formations or labor market position which now are central means of excluding people from welfare? The project touches directly upon the issues on the themes 1 and 2, 3 and 4. The project does not directly deal with theme 3) rethinking the economics of the welfare state, although it does so indirectly by investigating willingness and capacities of people for economic redistribution and solidarity. While the core of the project is located in Finland, the main counties of contrast and comparison are Germany and the UK. Furthermore, the case studies will include comparisons to France. Transnational connections are researched with regard to immigration (from Estonia and Somalia) and transnational governance. The will produce several (6-8) articles to be published in peer-reviewed academic journals based on seminar papers in scientific conferences, and an edited volume with a comparative perspective based on the case studies. It will organise cooperation events in England, Finland and Germany. (1494 signs)