Social Exclusion in a Comparative Context

This paper outlines a framework for understanding social exclusion that is multidimensional, dynamic, multi-leveled, and relational. Inspired by Polanyi's classification of the modes of economic inclusion, we propose that social inclusion and exclusion processes are rooted in four types of social relations: market (exchange and barter), bureaucratic (rational-legal), associative (common interest), and communal (complex reciprocity and shared identity). Each type reflects different, but integrated processes of social exclusion and inclusion. These four types are outlined conceptually, then operationalized using data from a Canadian survey conducted in 1995 rural households. The results show the extent to which the four types of relations are used for social support, their interdependence, and their relationship to selected household characteristics and outcomes. The policy implications discussed emphasize the ways in which building capacity in all four types of relations can increase the level of social inclusion.