International Meeting
Social Politics: debate and perspectives
Location: Lisbon, FCSH/UNL – ID Building, Sala Multiusos 2 (Multipurpose Room)
Dates: April 27th and 28th, 2012
Paper submissions until: March 15th, 2012
Working languages: Portuguese, English
Abstract submission (max.300 words and a short CV): [log in to unmask]
The definition of the social politics of the State as a historiographical study object still does not find in Portugal its promoters in the scientific research plan. Moreover, except for some examples of studies and lines of research that partially focus on this thematic, or only under a certain point of view of some of its thematic, a true structural reflection on this basic question still does not exist in the national historiography in the plan of contemporary Portuguese History .
In fact, there has been some contributions coming from history as well as some contributions coming from other scientific areas that approach areas so diverse as labour law and labour legislation, the social welfare and the projects of social protection in general, the public assistance to the beggars and the police and criminal repression of the beggary, hospitalization and public politics about Health, the social, popular and labourer habitation, among other thematic. However, a reflection is still lacking, that in a structural perspective, is able to trace in a integrated and articulated way the history of public politics of social scope promoted by the State. This study is also completed by its obvious and ample relations with social agents, such as: the autonomous movement of the workers and its intervention in the plans of the unionism, the mutualism and cooperativism on one hand and the patronal associativism and the economic and financial power, on the other.
Thus, to delineate the trajectory, the blockades and the impasses, the practical ruptures and continuities and to assay the execution of the delineated models, as the external influences and the intrinsic characteristics of the evolution of the intervention of the State in the social plan will be some of the main goals of this proposal of reflection that this scientific meeting will look for to give reply. To define which the true goals of the State are in its legislative intervention in the different periods and historical conjunctures is also crucial to be able to reach a reflection on this question.
We are equally aiming to raise the reflection on the role of the State in the labour world, mainly in what concerns the scientific organization of the methods and work processes. Taking into account the characteristics and timings of the on-going social, political, and economical conjunctures, as well as of the necessities and challenges with which some States have come across, we intend to stimulate the analysis of the national realities and the attempt of explanation of the causes that have led to the multiplicity of state answers - since the direct bet in the improvement of the work methods as part of the proper strategy of national development, passing through the indirect support to private initiatives, up until the resistance to change - in what the intervention of countries in favour of the improvement of work and life levels of the populations is concerned.
|