Citizenship in Nordic Welfare States Dynamics of Choice, Duties and Participation in a Changing Europe

Citizenship in Nordic Welfare States offers an innovative analysis of the ways in which the relationship between citizens and welfare states (social citizenship) becomes more dynamic and multifaceted as a result of Europeanization and individualization.Relations between citizens and welfare states are now to a greater extent involving issues of rights and duties, self-responsibility and choice, participation and self-government. The contents of citizenship are increasingly influenced by interactions between national and supranational levels of governance.An interdisciplinary team (social science, law and philosophy) examines the transformation of social citizenship through a series of illuminating case studies, comparing Nordic countries and other European nations. The book deals with the following areas of national and European welfare policy, legislation and practice: Activation - reforms linking income maintenance and employment promotion. The scope for participation of marginal groups in deliberation and decision-making. The impact of human rights legislation for welfare and legal protection against discrimination and social barriers to equal market participation. The co-ordination of social security systems to facilitate cross-border mobility in Europe. Pension reform - efforts to make pension systems sustainable. This book will appeal to students and researchers of social policy, comparative welfare and social work, social law, political science, sociology and European studies.Hvinden, Bjorn is the author of 'Citizenship in Nordic Welfare States Dynamics of Choice, Duties and Participation in a Changing Europe', published 2007 under ISBN 9780415414890 and ISBN 041541489X.