This paper comprises four sections. In the first section, a brief description of social exclusion—its origins, definitions, attributes, and its causes is provided. In the second section, social exclusion is contrasted with conventional American conceptualizations of disadvantage which are largely based on poverty. The third part of the paper contains a brief discussion on why American researchers and policymakers might consider integrating social exclusion into their discourse on disadvantage. The paper concludes with a description of some likely impediments to American adoption of social exclusion discourse and why, nevertheless, serious contemplation should be given to the possibility.

The main goal of this paper is to present to an American audience the concept of social exclusion—a concept which, despite roughly two decades of increasing importance in European social policy dialogue, remains somewhat ambiguous and elusive. This report also aims to present some thoughts as to why American researchers and policymakers might consider integrating social exclusion into U.S. discourse on disadvantage.The paper concludes with a description of some likely impediments to American adoption of social exclusion discourse and why, nevertheless, serious contemplation should be given to the possibility.

Despite compelling arguments in support of the introduction of social exclusion into American discourse on disadvantage, the effort would probably encounter a host of institutional, ideological, methodological, political, and intellectual challenges and they require a great deal of time to be established. Therefore, once established, vested interests perceive the costs of change to be prohibitively high, and, thus, they seek to maintain the status quo.

College of Urban planning & public affairs
Robin Hambleton, tel. +1 312.413.8088

06/01/2004

/03/

Lynn C. Todman

research

Urban Policy

Social inclusion & integration