Ревија за социјална политика/Journal of Social Policy

From a demographic trend to a policy problem: The framing of low fertility by pronatalist governments in North Macedonia (2009) and Serbia (2018; 2022)

Kristijan Fidanovski — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This paper examines the government discourses around low fertility in North Macedonia (2009) and Serbia (2018; 2022), which have introduced some of the most generous (relative to income) pronatalist child benefit packages in modern European history. Contributing to the literature on the politics of ideas around de-mographic processes and identity politics more broadly, we examine the transformation of low fertility into a policy problem through four discursive frames: (1) socioeconomic; (2) patriotic; (3) ethnic; (4) moral. Using the Frame Analysis method, we assess the construction of these frames through the techniques of “frame amplification,” “frame bridging,” “frame extension,” and “frame transformation”. We examine 58 pieces of pronatalist government discourse derived from parliamentary debates, government press conferences and TV campaigns around the introduction and (in the case of Serbia) expansion of the support packages. We find considerable evidence of socioeconomic and (especially) patriotic and moral framing of low fertility in both countries, but we only find evidence of ethnic framing in Serbia. We suggest that the presence of the socioeconomic, patriotic, and moral frames in both countries might be due to the confluence of demographic decline, contested nation-building, and conservative ideology of ruling parties and (a majority of) citizens. We also argue that the dominance of the patriotic and moral frames in both countries suggests that their pronatalism is more rooted in identity politics than in demographic realities. Finally, we posit that the divergence on the ethnic frame might be attributable to differences in party competition and interethnic relations.

Welfare state and welfare abuse: empirical evidence from Poland

Łukasz Jurek — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Welfare abuse is a complex and multidimensional research problem. The purpose of this article is twofold: theoretical and empirical. The theoretical objective is to present the author’s understanding of the term ‘welfare abuse’. The nature and typology of this problem are discussed. In this way, an attempt is made to provide a theoretical framework for research on welfare abuse. The second (empirical) aim builds on these conceptual findings. A self-report survey was conducted, the results of which allowed us to estimate the level of tolerance towards different types of irregularities in Poland.

The author defines welfare abuse as irregularities committed by individuals in the use of welfare benefits. He proposes to divide these irregularities into three categories: (1) optimisation, (2) overuse and (3) misuse. Due to the lack of reliable official data on welfare abuse, one of the possible ways to detect this problem is through surveys. In this case, questions are asked about the degree of justification for various irregularities. This makes it possible to determine the degree of social permissiveness and also, in an indirect way, certain (conscious or unconscious) inclinations to commit such irregularities personally.

The results of the empirical study reveal a surprisingly high level of justification of social fraud in Poland. In some cases (registering as unemployed for the sole purpose of obtaining health insurance, spending child benefit for purposes other than maintaining a child, and fictitious employment in a company just to obtain social security), abuse is the norm, not the exception, because it is justified by the majority of society. In other cases, the percentage of respondents who justify the abuse is lower than the percentage of those who do not, but it is still quite high.

Solidarity in Southeast European Swiss family networks during Covid-19

Barbara Waldis, Marta Marques — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Family solidarity in Southeast European Swiss families was challenged by the state border closures due to Covid-19. The interviewees in our exploratory study (2021, 2023) emphasize the additional geographical and emotional difficulties during the pandemic of staying connected with the seniors in the Southeast European countries, as well as the increased sense of obligation of care. For the families with senior citizens from the mentioned countries in Switzerland however, the question of family solidarity looks quite different due to the existing state social insurances. Within a situation of crisis, what happens to the much-cited family solidarity serving as a safety net in Southeast European countries in a situation of low social welfare? How can we compare these trans-European families caring for seniors across European borders with the care of those seniors within the welfare state of Switzerland? The qualitative, actor-centred content analysis of twelve family interviews is oriented by a decolonial social work perspective. The contribution therefore focuses on the action strategies of family members living in Switzerland vis-à-vis senior citizens living in Kosovo, Serbia or North Macedonia and contrasts these with the experiences of families with senior citizens from Southeast Europe in Switzerland. The experiences during the pandemic sharpen the comprehension for the challenges of a cross-border social policy, on the one hand regarding the importance of family solidarity in accordance of the family composition, and on the other hand regarding a network of solidarity rooted in public social institutions.

Muslim welfare organizations in Germany – Between participation, professionalization, and empowerment

Sinem Tekin — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Since the growth of the Muslim population in Germany, the demands for a Muslim welfare organization are getting louder. For this reason, the German Islam Conference started some projects to develop Muslim interests in welfare organizations. The landscape of the German social welfare system is dominated by six umbrella organizations. Three of these are faith-based organizations. A Muslim organization is still missing, despite some empowerment projects. There are attempts of different Muslim communities to build social services which meet the needs of spiritual and cultural sensitiveness of Muslim people and allow them to participate in the existing system. The paper is analysing perspectives of experts on a possible concept for a Muslim welfare organization. The aim is to show a possible way of organizing and implementing a national organization. The issue is discussed in expert interviews and an additional group method of a world café. The major results can improve the ongoing efforts for a culturally sensitive welfare organization. One of the key topics is the professionalization of the existing social services in mosques and other community centers. They must meet the requirements of social work to get tax exemptions and to receive government funds. Another point is to separate religious and social services in the community centers. The heterogeneity in the Muslim population must be respected and integrated in a new form of welfare organizations, which can be different from the existing faith-based welfare organizations. Another point is to implement these tasks in borough, county, and national levels.

Possibilities and perspectives of participation of older minors in electoral processes in Montenegro

Nina Krivokapić, Mehmed Đečević — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The youth population in Montenegro constitutes a demographic of strong significance for study. The theme that stands out is their involvement in conventional forms of political participation. Decreasing the voting age from 18 to 16 would enable the youth population to participate in the voting process, directly impacting policies that would affect their societal status. EU member states such as Malta, Austria, and Germany serve as strong examples of good practice with regard to the voting rights of youth. The objective of this study was to assess the political awareness and will of the youth in Montenegro to take on more societal and political responsibility, and to compare the political knowledge between newly eligible voters and older minors, in line with trends in the EU. In order to examine the attitudes of youth and obtain research findings, a combination of quantitative research through a survey and qualitative research through a semi-structured interview conducted with relevant actors such as psychologists, teachers, young people, and representatives of the non-governmental sector was conducted. The research survey was conducted on a sample of 186 participants who completed the survey online. The respondents were youth attending high school or university in the Podgorica area. The results indicate that older minors reject the idea of decreasing the voting age from 18 to 16, and that older minors have the same or comparable degree of political knowledge as young adults who are already eligible to vote. Another finding points to the fact that older minors have confidence in electoral processes but do not want to participate in them. They have a higher level of trust in the non-governmental sector and believe
that it is through these organizations that they become active participants in society.

The abilities of recruiters and methodology of the selection process as factors for employment

Natasa Angeloska-Galevska, Elena Galevska, Pavlina Stefanova — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The strategies for recruitment and selection of candidates are increasingly evolving as the main factors for the successful employment of candidates. In a society where companies compete for suitable candidates, recruiters have the responsible role of representing the company and making the first impression. The recruiters are the link between the labour population and the labour market. The abilities that recruiters possess and the selection strategies they use are a crucial part of this interconnection. The aim of the paper is to analyse what methodology recruiters use in the selection process, as well as the main abilities they must possess as a factor to create a match between suitable candidates and the job position. By studying the point of view of recruiters and candidates, we describe the variety of strategies used in the process of hiring candidates. With the scope of ensuring a positive candidate experience as well as a pleasant recruitment process in a limited labour market such as the current one, recruiters need to possess strong soft skills, especially in terms of communication, active listening, and empathy. When deciding upon the methodology they need to work closely together with the hiring managers and HR managers and choose the most adequate steps such as interviews, personality tests, and various tasks. Empirical results from the study give a glimpse of the methodology and tools used in sourcing and selecting suitable candidates and provide consideration of other practices to be developed in the recruitment process in order to increase and improve employment.

The child protection policy in North Macedonia: Perceptions of professionals and beneficiaries

Elizabeta Kunovska — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Social and child protection is a set of policies and programs designed to reduce and prevent poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion throughout the life cycle. Early childhood interventions provide an exceptional opportunity to invest in something that is both cost-effective and reasonable, cost-effective in the sense that there is an opportunity to obtain a skilled and capable workforce in the future, and fair in the sense that this intervention gives the best results for children who live in un- favourable conditions and lack adequate stimulation. The paper aims to analyse the perception of the professionals and beneficiaries regarding needs for enhancementof the child protection system in North Macedonia. The practical goal of this study is for the results to serve as guidelines for evidence-based policy making, as well as the introduction of new programs or the improvement of existing ones.