CONFERENCIA INTERNACIONAL de SOCIOLOGÍA de las POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS y SOCIALES
LAS POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS Y SOCIALES EN LA ENCRUCIJADA: INCERTIDUMBRE, COMPLEJIDAD Y CAMBIO

International Conference on Sociology of Public and Social Policies
PUBLIC AND SOCIAL POLICY AT A THE CROSSROADS: UNCERTAINTY, COMPLEXITY AND CHANGE

MAY 22-23, 2012


WORKING GROUPS
ESPAÑOL

(1). The social construction of welfare and public space in times of crisis.
Chair: Pablo Garcia, pgruiz@unizar.es

This working group focuses on discussing the impact of the crisis on the definition and implementation of social welfare. Analysis and comments are sought on the various theoretical approaches that try to explain the current situation, as well as studies on the process of redefining the public space, new forms of social participation and its impact on welfare policies.

(2). The role of institutions and Public Administrations in the face of change.
Chair: M ª Victoria Sanagustín, vitico@unizar.es

Social change requires the leadership of institutions and public administrations. This working group aims to open the lines of debate and examine in-depth examples of good governance practices, the implementation of quality systems and new public management, the institutionalization of ethical codes, etc.. from a perspective that seeks citizen participation and correct behavior characterized by a socially accepted minimums ethicwhose paradigm is that of sustainability: social, economic and environmental.

(3). The evaluation of the efficiency and quality of public and social policies
Chair: Lucia Garcia, lgarcia@unizar.es, and Carmen Marcuello, cmarcue@unizar.es

Transparency and good governance require the evaluation of public and social policies in order to allow citizens to know how decisions that affect them are made and how public funds are used. This session will address general aspects of the evaluation of public and social policies and will pay special attention to the criteria of efficiency and quality.

(4). Challenges and problems of education policies
Chair: Carmen Elboj, celboj@unizar.es

Reproductionist approaches denied the school's ability to influence in overcoming inequalities. Both studies and individual experiences have shown that schools can actually make a difference in the lives of individuals and society. Although education alone is not the solution, European institutions and policies acknowledge that it has an important role to play and that it offers the possibility of promoting social mobility. This session will address education policies and activities and their interaction with other economic and social interventions for promoting social inclusion.

(5). Economic policies in the face of the crisis: objectives, tools and approaches.
Chair: LA. Sáez, lasaez@unizar.es, and F. Rodrigo frodrigo@unizar.es

Economic policies are are being rethought, faced with the depth of the current crisis, with regard to objectives and tools, as well as the ways of carrying them out. This group will address a debate which contrasts priorities, their contents and identifies the agents that play the chief part in them. Consequently, the classic questions Why intervene? and Who does it best, governments or markets? demand new answers and questions.


(6). New keys, new context in migration policies
Chair: Carlos Gomez Bahillo cgomez@unizar.es, Nuria del Olmo, nolmov@unizar.es, Antonio Eito, antoni@unizar.es

This working group seeks to build a space for reflection on current population movements generated from the new world order / disorder, with contributions that frame the view from the current crisis, discussing those aspects that potentially will benefit all societies and social groups that experience migration. We propose three areas for discussion: i. questions about immigration as an alternative to generation replacement, ii. analysis of current employment policies and education policy, iii. policies of multicultural diversity management from local authorities. Whilst these are the priorities, any other contribution will be welcome.

(7). The crisis and public employment policies
Chair: J. Clemente, clemente@unizar.es and V. Montuenga, vimontue@unizar.es

The current crisis has highlighted the importance of employment policies. This group aims to analyze the influence of these policies on current labour market behavior. Our approach is comparative both in terms of active versus passive policies as well as from an international perspective, essential from the point of view of the effectiveness of such policies. Finally, it is essential to identify the increasing segmentation in the labour market, as well as appropriate mechanisms to evaluate public policies on employment, especially in a context of economic recession.

(8). Citizen participation, volunteering and the Third Sector
Chair: JD. Gómez Quintero, jdgomez@unizar.es

During the last decades, there has been increasing institutional disaffection regarding conventional forms of citizen participation. However, in contrast, we have witnessed an explosion of civil society in terms of participation through voluntary work in Third Sector organizations. In this context, civic participation can play two roles. First, it can influence the direction which planning takes and the implementation of public and social policies. Second, it can assume more importance as part of the management of these policies. The working group will describe and analyze these trends.

(9). Policies and challenges in the family, youth and children
Chair: Maria J. Bernuz, mbernuz@unizar.es and Teresa Picontó, tpiconto@unizar.es

This group will discuss new problems that are emerging in the field of policies on children, youth and the family related to the current difficult economic situation and a new reading of child and youth rights both in the context of child protection and juvenile justice.


Depto. Psicología y Sociología. Fac. Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales.
Gran Vía s/n. Zaragoza-50005. Tel.: +34-976-761995. <sed4009@unizar.es>