Second ASPEN/ETUI conference:
Activation and Security

March 20-21, 2009, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

The currently emerging model of production is characterised by a process of constant change and instability. This process of change towards a phase of radicalisation of modernity (Giddens 1990), has analytically been conceptualised with the use of physical metaphors: the passage from “solid” to “liquid” modernity (Bauman 2007). Enduring and solid identities, once associated with family, work or community have given way to fluid, flexible and more provisional identities that are subject to constant change and renegotiation. The long term life projects and stable careers have been replaced by an unending and fragmented series of short term projects. A new profile of appropriate worker and citizen is being defined. According to this profile, the worker should seek to fuel a spirit of initiative and constant progress, to be flexible and adaptable.

Political and academic attention has been paid to identify the adequate form of intervention which might serve to adapt societies to new norms of production. In this framework, the concept of flexicurity is placed at the core of the discussion. This “mixed” word seems to become a compromise between different political voices. However, this notion is based on the principle of the necessary flexibility of labour market. Therefore, both parts of this mixed word are not symmetrical. “Flexibility” is naturalised and is considered to be an inevitable fact of life. The problematised question concerns the issue of “security”. The key discussion is therefore how security could be defined?

In this framework, activation has been seen as the modernised way of understanding security. It aims at the reinforcement of human capital and the fostering of “individual agency”, at the provision of ethical skills to people (self-management, self-help and self-reliance). Activation means not only the production of a new type of individuals, who are more flexible, active, employable and self-governed individuals (Bauman 1999), but also involves new risks for workers, who need to be adequately addressed by public services. In this framework, the role played by individuals as well as institutions and governance mechanisms have increasingly been regarded as important in fostering an adequate process of change towards more flexible societies.

The term “security” (protection against risk), which was the basis of the structure of the protective Welfare State, is now changing its meaning into “the ability to adapt to change”. The Welfare State’s purpose is, therefore, rather than protection against the risks inherent to a market economy, the establishment of the right conditions and attitudes for people to adapt to the requirements of an ever-changing economy. The Welfare State concentrates on promoting risk management, like individuals’ employability in order to facilitate personal management of the situation. The role of public institutions in managing risk is considered a key success factor.

The venue of the conference will be the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. (www.muni.cz/fss)

The conference will take place March 20-21, 2009.

Paper instructions

Paper authors are kindly requested to observe the following guidelines:

maximum length of papers: 8000 words
deadline for paper submission: March 1st, 2009

Contact

For further questions, please contact one of the organizers of the conference:

Rik van Berkel (r.vanberkel@uu.nl)
Amparo Serrano (amparoserrano@telefonica.net)

Acknowledgements

This conference is organised by:

The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI: www.etui-rehs.org)
The Active Social Policies European Network
Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies, Institute for Research on Social Reproduction and Social Integration

This conference is organised in co-operation with:

The Danish employment policies network (BPFnet: (www.bpfnet.dk)
The research network Reform of Employment services (RESQ: www.resqresearch.org)
The Nordic Centre of Excellence Reassess (REASSES: http://www.reassess.no)

Practical details

Accommodation near the Faculty of Social Studies:

Travel information – how to get to Brno

Direct flight connections to Brno are only available from London/Stansted and Prague. Another possibility is to fly to Vienna and from Vienna continue to Brno by bus or train or to use train or bus directly from your country.

Up-to-date information about departures and arrivals is accessible under the following link:
Airport Brno
Czech airlines flights and connections

Transport to and from Vienna airport

Up-to-date timetable is accessible under the following link:
Vienna international airport – to and from the airport

Bus or train connection