Definition of the word social exclusion

The term "social exclusion" emerged as a concept in the 1970s, specifically in the context of urban policy in France. It was coined by French sociologist and political scientist Jean-Claude Chesnais, who used it to describe the cumulative effects of poverty, inequality, and marginalization on individuals and communities. Chesnais argued that social exclusion goes beyond economic deprivation and includes factors such as social isolation, lack of access to employment, education, and healthcare, and exclusion from social, political, and cultural activities. In this sense, social exclusion is a multi-dimensional problem that affects various aspects of people's lives and leads to social disadvantage and deprivation. The concept of social exclusion has since been adopted by international organizations such as the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations, who use it to frame policy responses to poverty, inequality, and social marginalization. It has also gained currency in academic debates and research around the world, as a way to analyze and understand the structural causes of poverty and inequality, and to develop strategies to tackle them. Critics of the concept argue that it may be too broad and abstract, and that it underplays the agency and resilience of disadvantaged individuals and communities. Nonetheless, the term "social exclusion" remains a useful and widely recognized shorthand to describe the interconnected and complex social and economic processes that contribute to poverty, inequality, and marginalization, and to mobilize responses that address these problems in a holistic and inclusive way.