Organization: University of Luton
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 13:19:35 GMT
Priority normal
Subject: begging in Europe
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To: [log in to unmask]
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Dear Colleagues,
Joint Project for a Comparative Study of Begging in Europe: Partner
Search
We are looking for partners who might apply together with us to
Brussels for funding for a joint project. We aim to seek funding
through the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission, and
possibly additional or parallel funding from the UK Department for
International Development and/or the UK Economic and Social Research
Council.
The proposed international comparative project will focus on begging in
Western and Eastern Europe.
Background
The Department of Applied Social Studies at the University of Luton
includes a small group of social policy specialists with interests in
issues of welfare and citizenship, social exclusion and informal and
street-level economic activities, both in the UK and in Eastern Europe.
Specifically, individual members of this group have recently undertaken
a pilot study of begging in England and Scotland, conducted research on
street homelessness in Russia, and organised a successful national
seminar on begging A book based on the contributions to this seminar is
due to be published in September [Dean, H. (ed.) Begging and
Street-level Economic Activity, The Policy Press].
We now hope to set up an international comparative project on begging
and its implications for social policy.
Objectives of the project
The proposed project will address the proliferation of begging
throughout Europe as a reflection of processes resulting from
transformations in the nature of differing types of welfare states. The
research project would seek:
1) To provide an understanding of the limits of welfare provision in
various welfare cultures as reflected in the emergence of wide-spread
street-level economic activities in general, and in begging in
particular. We will look at the significance of changes in the
distribution of public resources, in social security, housing, and
mental health provision which exacerbate or produce social exclusion and
begging. We are also planning to study how the processes of
international and domestic migration and exclusion of migrants from
citizenship/residency rights lead to the increase in begging.
2) To determine how the increase in the informal economic activities,
including begging, reflects the changes in global economic conditions
and labour markets and the changing nature of work in various European
countries.
3) To study the extent of begging and, in particular, the composition
of the population that obtain their living (or a part of it) by begging
in different European cities in order to reveal the cultural factors
which influence how, where and in what circumstances people may resort
to begging. We plan to study the social and demographic characteristics
of beggars, their ethnicity and citizenship, and access to welfare
rights. Although we do not envisage a quantitative survey of begging,
relevant sources on the numbers and characteristics of people who beg
will be identified and studied.
4) To reveal the particular characteristics of begging as an informal
economic activity, including the various strategies adopted by beggars
in interaction with the members of the public, the interrelationship
between begging and other forms of informal and street-level economic
activity, and the interrelationship between begging and homelessness.
5) To address the issue of begging and citizenship, including the
beggars' perceptions of their citizenship rights and obligations in a
particular culture. We would look at the issue of whether and to what
extent the beggars remain a part of the social and cultural mainstream
and are subject to the same ideological influences; including the issue
of alternative lifestyles.
7) To implement a cross-cultural study of perceptions of begging. We
would look at such issues as perceptions of undeserving and deserving
poor in various cultures, perceived causes of begging and relationship
between political beliefs and the attitudes to beggars.
8) To study the policy initiatives in relation to begging at the
national and local levels, both those directed to the regulation and
control of begging and those directed to the protection and assistance
of street people.
Research Methods
We would probably aim to conduct research in five major European cities.
Research methods would include in every country:
- a comprehensive literature review;
- a public opinion survey of perceptions of begging (as appropriate, in
order to complement existing data sources);
- observation and in-depth interviews with beggars;
- semi-structured interviews with policy makers and practitioners.
We are looking for active partners in Western European countries other
than the UK and in Eastern Europe, but also, possibly, potential
collaborators from other UK institutions with direct experience of
research in this field. If you are interested in participating in this
project, we would very much like to hear from you. Please get in touch
with me, indicating:
- the basis of your interest;
- the specific expertise or facilities which you are able to offer;
- the particular components of the proposed project with which you
might be able to assist;
- any ideas or suggestions you may wish to contribute or share with us
in relation to the development of the project.
Yours sincerely
Dr. Svetlana Sidorenko-Stephenson
Department of Applied Social Studies
University of Luton
Park Square
Luton
LU1 3JU
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1582 732886
Fax: +44 (0)1582 734265
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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