Theorizing Social Protection: a Synthesis of Institutional, Interactionist and Holistic Perspectives Текст научной статьи по специальности «Социологические науки»

Регион и мир, 2024, № 6 (55)

Theorizing Social Protection: a Synthesis of Institutional, Interactionist and Holistic Perspectives

Aghajanyan Martin A.

PhD student, Chair of Political Science, Faculty of International Relations, Y SU (Yerevan, RA)

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-426Q-217X [email protected]

UDC: 32, 35; EDN: QIELIV DOI: 10.58587/18292437-2024.6-157

Keywords & phrases: Social Protection, Institutional and Interactionist Theories, Holistic Approach, Constructivism, Functionalism, Symbolic Interactionism, Conflict Theory, Critical Theory

ипд^ш|ш^шЬ ii|iii7inii|iiiiinLp|iiiii |nLiiiupiiiiinLil|i iing|in|nq|uul|iiiii inhunLp|iiLiiiih|i|i

Фрпдп^

ицш£шЦ]ши Ц^шрт^й U.

шищ^ршйш, £шqшpшqfomnlpJшh шйр^пй, Ufr2шqqш|frй hшpшpbpmpJnLййbpfr фшЦпцтЬт,

Ьркшйр. щЪтш^шЬ hшйш|uшpшй (Ьркшй,

Uililinilniiq|i|i. ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2тщшЬт^П1Ьр прщЬи 20-рц цшрпЫ ЬЬрцр^шй hшJЬдш^шpq, ш^Ьф ршЬ шрц^ш^шЬ t шуиор, ршЬф ршд^шр^Ц щЬтт^тЬЬЬр рш^Цп^^ ЬЬ ипд^ш^-щЬтЬиш^шЬ иршдпц ^шршшИрш-ЦЬрЬЬрк ^Ьщ^и^р ЬЬ ш^ршштр^тЬр, qnpôшqp^nLpJnLЬp, Ь^ш^тшЬЬр^ шfrhш4шuшpnLpJnLЬp, рЬш^nLpJшЬ йЬршдт^р к шдЬ: nLunL¿ЬшufrpnL¿ t ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2ШщшЬnLpJnLЬp Ьр^т. h^¿Ьш^шЬ ипд^щщ^-

ш^шЬ rnbunLpjnLbbbp^" ^Ьит^ттд^пЬш^ф к ^ЬтЬрш^тИМф щр^^ицп^ прпЬр щпш2шpUnL¿ ЬЬ hш¿шщшpфш^ 2р2шЬш4 (Ьр^тЛр iïnrnbgnLiï), pb ^ЬщЬи щЬшр t ЦЬр^йЦЬЬ ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2тщшЬт-р^Ь hш¿ш^шpqЬpp: ЬЬит^щшд^пЬш! шЬиnLpJnLЬЬЬpp щшщ^ЬpшgnL¿ ЬЬ шшфи hшuшpш^nLpJшЬ йкш^пр-¿шЬ qnpônLiï ^Ьит^щттЬЬр^ цЬр^ к nLdk ц^Ьш^^иф ¿шфЬ, ¿^ЬцЬп ^ЬтЬрш^щ^фитш^шЬ rn^mp^k ЬЬpp ЬЬ ш)Ь ^¿шищЬЬрЬ nL фnpйщпnLpJnLЬЬЬpp, прпЬр ¿шрц^ ^шщnL¿ ЬЬ ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2шщш-

ЬnLpJшЬ hЬш: ФпрйЬрЦ ^пршдЬЬ^ ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2ШщшЬnLpJшЬ hшJЬgш^шpq^ 4ЬplnLÔnLpJnLЬp, ^ц^Ьш^ gЬЬшp^nL¿ t ¿ш^рп к ¿fr^pn hшpшgnLJgЬpfr hш¿шщшщшufaшfrnlpJnLЬp, ^Ь^щ^и^р ЬЬ фnLЬ^g^nЬшфq¿p, ^пЬфф^тЬЬр^ шЬиnLpJnLЬp, gЬЬщqшшш^шЬ шЬиnLpJnLЬЬЬpp, fanphpцшЬ2шUшЬ к ^пЬиш-

pnL^m^Miïp: Ршд^ шц, gЬЬшpЩnL¿ t щшдтд^ hшpшgnLJg" ^ цЫи ЬпфишЭД ¿nшЬg¿шЬ: Uju ^ЬшЬqp4шô ¿nrn^nLtfp Ьщшшш^ пШ^ ршр^ш^Ь ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2ШщшЬnLpJшЬ hшJЬgш^шpq^ ^^ln^nip^^" hш2ф шпЬЬрЦ ^Ь^щЬи ^п^д^шй^^^Ь, ш|ЬщЬи tl шЬhшшш^шЬ ш^pnLJpЬЬpp: ПшnL¿ЬшufrpnLpJnLЬp ôшпшJnL¿ t hЬшшqш hЬшшqnшnLpJnLЬЬЬp^ hш¿шp прщЬи h^¿Ьшpшp тцЬдщд ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2ШщшЬnLpJшЬ qшpqш-gnq n^nprnnLiï:

siiiiiqnLgiiipuinh|i к ршпш^шщш^дш-вдш-ьььр' ипд^ш^ш^шЬ щш2ШщшЬnLpJnLЬ, ^Ьит^ттд^пЬш! к ^ЬтЬрш^т^фитш^шЬ шЬиnLpJnLЬЬЬp, ш¿рnд2шUшЬ (hnj^urn^^) ¿nrn^nLtf, ЦпЬишрт-ЦшЭД^гё, фnLЬ^g^nЬш]^q¿, и^фф^ ^ЬщЬpш^щfrфq¿, ^пЬфф^тЬЬр^ шЬunLpJnLЬ, gЬЬщqшшш^шЬ шЬunLpJnLЬ

Теоретизация социальной защиты: синтез институциональных, интеракционистских и

целостных точек зрения

Агаджанян Мартин А.

аспирант кафедры политологии, Факультет международных отношений, ЕГУ (Ереван, РА)

Аннотация. Социальная защита, концепция, введенная в 20 веке, более чем актуальна в наши дни, поскольку многие страны сталкиваются с возрастающими социально-экономическими проблемами, такими как бедность, безработица, неравенство доходов, старение населения и т. д. В статье социальная защита рассматривается через призму двух ключевых социологических теорий: институциональной и интеракционистской, предлагающих комплексную структуру (двухкогортный подход) того, как следует анализировать системы социальной защиты. Институциональные теории дают представление о роли институтов и динамике власти в формировании общества, в то время как интеракционистские теории подчеркивают значения и опыт, которые люди придают социальной защите. В попытке углубить анализ концепции социальной защиты автор обсуждает релевантность макро- и микропарадигм, таких как функционализм, теория конфликта, критические теории, символический интеракционизм и конструктивизм. Кроме того, под видом целостного (холистического) подхода была представлена дополнительная парадигма. Эта интегрированная перспектива направлена на повышение эффективности анализа концепции социальной защиты путем рассмотрения как структурных, так и

индивидуальных измерений. Исследование служит основополагающим руководством для дальнейших исследований в развивающейся области социальной защиты.

Ключевые слова и словосочетания: Социальная защита, институциональные и интеракционистские теории, целостный (холистический) подход, конструктивизм, функционализм, символический интеракционизм, теория конфликта, критическая теория

Introduction

Theoretical frameworks are a vital foundation and tool for comprehending diverse concepts and phenomena since they facilitate philosophical, epistemological1, methodological, and analytical insights into research topics and enable reflecting on and presenting a clear overview of the subject matter [8, pp. 12-26]. The paper aims to contribute to the existing theoretical knowledge by presenting and categorizing different social and philosophical theoretical frameworks in order to generate a research loupe which will help comprehend the multifaceted and extensive context of social protection.

Two-Cohort Approach

Given the varying practices and experiences that modern nations have developed in response to their unique social challenges, as well as the multidisciplinary nature of social protection studies, encompassing fields such as economics or sociology, it is reasonable to conclude that a multitude of approaches exist in elucidating the concept of social protection. Before delving into the main discussion of the two-cohorts model, it is also important to reflect on what social protection entails. As a concept, mainly introduced in the 20th century, i.e. not very long ago, the concept of social protection provides social and economic stability as well as social cohesion by addressing the needs of the vulnerable. Accordingly, the concept addresses both major and minor actors within systems such as political and economic structures, as well as individuals in need [9, pp. 515-519]. Hence, to analyze the concept of social protection at the macro and micro levels, respectively, two different perspectives are considered: institutional theories (macro level) and interactionist theories (micro level). This dualism of structural and individual domains is what enables us to identify the functionality and purpose of social protection systems. While Structural or Institutional Theories focus on the importance of large-scale social structures, institutions, and power dynamics and provide insights into how social protection systems are shaped by economic, political, and social institutions; Agency or Interactionist Theories

1 Epistemology encompasses all areas related to knowledge or cognition: psychology, sociology, logic, history, physiology, pathology, axiology, metaphysics, and more. When defined narrowly, epistemology examines the origins, cognitive values, principles, and boundaries of knowledge [16, pp. 3-4].

highlight the personal experiences, interactions, and meanings that individuals and groups attach to social protection [13, pp. 1-7]. The comprehensive analysis of sociological macro and micro levels is illustrated in Figure 1. Inspired by Jennifer Puentes and Michaela Willi Hooper's representation,2 the figure delineates the key characteristics of each level that collectively constitute society. This perspective facilitates the analysis of social protection on distinct tiers or the examination of individual components in isolation.

Figure 1. Levels of analysis in sociology

Groups

»

Roles

Socialization

Interaction

*

Self

Below is the table where the two major cohorts of theories are represented for further analysis and conceptualisation (see Table 1).

2 Inspired by the figure of Jennifer Puentes and Michaela Willi Hooper [12].

Culture

Social Institutions

Economics, Politics, Education, Religion, Family, Work

Social Inequality

Race, Gender, Class

PeeuoH u Mup, 2024, № 6 (55)

TABLE 1: TWO-COHORT APPROACH IN ANALYSING SOCIAL PROTECTION

MAIN THEORETICAL COHORTS

1. Institutional Theories (Macro Level) Taking into account that social protection addresses various aspects of socio-economic life, such as poverty, unemployment, and other challenges, first, it is essential to establish how societies address these issues. One perspective to explore the functioning of social protection is to understand the essence of social institutions and how they operate primarily. Hence, it is more advantageous to first try to define what institutions are and how understanding their functions can aid in grasping social protection. As stated by R. Scott, institutions are composed of cultural-cognitive, normative, and regulative elements that provide stability and meaning to social life [17, pp. 427442]. Overall, institutions are a complex set of social norms, beliefs, values, and role relationships. In this context, institutional theories help explain how the adoption of organizational structures such as cultural norms and practices [7, pp. 1327-1330] or governance structures explain social protection systems in different contexts.

2. Interactionist Theories (Micro Level) Interactionist theories underscore the significance of meanings and interpretations that individuals assign to various phenomena, thereby offering a subjective perspective on their experiences and perceptions [10, pp. 18-28].

As cited in McPhail, Blumer mentions that "Individuals are active agents who construct their social world through everyday interactions" [15, pp. 401-423]. Interactionist theories study the roles of individuals, focusing on how people assert their needs and rights within various social systems. Based on the premise that individuals are active agents, various social scientists reproach these theories as agency theories. Interactions create a foundation which gives people a "behavioral referent" [18, p. 469]. These behavioral referents in turn aid in exploring the motivations and meanings of future interactions [18, p. 470]. Overall, Inter-actionist theories provide a framework to contemplate what the concept of social protection should encompass and which attributes it should additionally include.

MAIN PARADIGMS

Macroparadigms

Relevance

Functionalism

Microparadigms

Relevance

In the scope of social science, functionalism views society as a complex system with parts that work together to promote solidarity and stability [19, pp. 1-27]. It stresses the importance of social institutions and most importantly, their functions in maintaining social order. The rationale why we have categorized it as a component of a larger institutional framework is that, as already stated, functionalism

primarily focuses on the functions of the institutes rather than on the entirety of the institutional system itself. Each institution serves a specific function that contributes to the overall functioning and equilibrium of society. Functionalism focuses on how social structures meet the needs of society and how they

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionism examines the recurrent interactions among individuals in society. It uses a "bottom-up" approach in contrast to macro-level theories like structural functionalism [4, pp. 1-17]. The theory primarily emphasizes the significance of language and symbols in interpersonal communication [2, pp. 1-3] and is based on the following hypotheses: human beings attach to objects and phenomena meanings; these meanings derive from social interactions; and meanings are adapted through an interpretive process [2, p. 2]. The insights provided in the scope of symbolic interact-tionism are significant in the way they interpret individual and group perceptions and interactions. Integrating these analyses into the social

Conflict Theory

contribute to social cohesion. As cited in Turner and Maryanski, one of the prominent sociologists, Robert Nisbet found that "functionalism is, without any doubt, the single most significant body of theory in the social sciences in the present [i.e., 20th] century." [19, pp. 1-27]

Based on the common reasoning and the provided information, we can infer that the role or function of social protection, in the framework of functionalism, is the maintenance of social order and stability by fulfilling necessary societal functions. This framework also helps verify how social protection systems contribute to societal cohesion and address the needs of different social groups.

Crozier in "A Theory of Conflict" writes that the conflict theory stipulates that social structures and institutions reflect the interests and power of groups dominant in the society which evidently leads to resources and authority conflicts. This theory emphasizes that societal change results from the struggle between competing interests [6, pp. 369-370]. Conflict Theory is relevant to social protection since it unfolds how existing power dynamics and inequalities occur in social protection policies. This process is ultimately insightful in terms of the socio-political context of social protection. As previously stated, social protection is intended to alleviate poverty and other societal challenges; it is therefore examined through various interdisciplinary lenses. For instance, poverty, described as a 'wicked social

Constructivism

protection discourse may prove advantageous since the experiences and perceptions of the people are crucial in the formula for comprehending the overarching concept of social protection.

As outlined by Andre Kukla in his work titled "Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science", constructivism is about reflecting on and then constructing the world properties and scientific facts through social processes and interactions rather than discovering them [14, pp. 1-18]. In other words, scientists create "facts" through their activities and interactions. In fact, "...theoretical entities and processes are constituted or constructed by scientists post hoc..." [14, pp. 3-5]. Consequently, researchers are merely observers and post-factum constructors of reality. Applying constructivist principles to social protect-tion fosters deeper understanding of the complex social dynamics and more effective, inclusive, and adaptable social protection policies.

PezuQH u Mup, 2024, № 6 (55)

Critical Theory

problem" by Thomas Corbett [5, pp. 3-8], is frequently not merely an economic issue but also a political one, as it undermines social cohesion and creates tensions between the affluent and those in poverty. It is commonly included in the programs of political parties, which transforms the economic aspect of poverty and extends it to politics [1, pp. 75-80].

The critical theory can be more accurately characterized by Alan How's "Critical Theory" where the author defines it as a philosophical approach [11, p. 3]. According to the author's stance, this paradigm tackles a critical viewpoint towards oppressive and disparity-generating power structures and ideologies. According to the author, the final state of a "harmonious" society can occur when individuals are emancipated from constraints imposed by dominant societal forces [11, p. 6].

By challenging or reinforcing existing power structures and inequalities, the conflict theory provides a theoretical foundation on how to better social protection systems [21, pp. 213-237]. When the root causes of social inequities are identified and addressed, it leads to more equitable and just social protection systems. Thus, by employing this approach, the researcher can deliver a robust analysis concerning not only the immediate support and its implications within the context of social protection but also regarding long-term societal transformations.

Holistic Approach

On top of the aforementioned two-cohort theoretical flows approach, there is also another, more integrated approach to achieve a thoroughs comprehension of social protection. Insights from both institutional and interactionist theories can be merged into one more holistic approach that could consider both macro-level structures and micro-level experiences. The holistic approach interconnects philosophical and design frameworks [10, pp. 18-28].

Murray Bookchin in "The Ecology of Freedom: The Emergence and Dissolution of Hierarchy" debates that the concept of social ecology is wired by the holistic interdependence of social and natural relationships within communities [3, p. 22]. In terms of social protection policies, the holistic analysis of the interconnectedness of various social factors such as health, education, employment, and environmental sustainability provides quite a significant picture of society. Addressing these factors in isolation would not be as effective as considering their interdependencies and how they collectively contribute to understanding society. An illustration of this is the UNICEF framework, where the authors, for example, incorporate different concepts such as universal coverage, national systems and leadership, as well as inclusivity in reaching social protection [20, p. 4].

Figure 2. Visual interpretation of integrated/holistic approach (author',v own illustration)

Holistic 1 Approach

Micro Level

Macro Level

Conclusion

In conclusion, analyzing social protection through macro-level institutional theories and micro-level interactionist theories provides a thorough perspective on its complex character. Institutional theories elucidate the design and operation of social safety programs by examining social institutions and power dynamics, thereby contributing to societal stability. On the other hand, interactionist theories emphasize how people's subjective experiences and interactions with others shape their engagement with complex systems, underscoring the significance of individual meanings and actions. The combination of these two complimentary constructs adds value to the understanding of social protection, with the consequence that policymakers and theories consider an explanation for social problems that addresses both structural and individual dimensions.

Furthermore, the comprehensive approach, which integrates perspectives from both institutional and interactionist frameworks, enhances the analysis by acknowledging the interrelation of social forces. This method emphasizes the necessity of analyzing social protection in conjunction with wider sociological, economic, and environmental factors. Such a perspective encourages the development of inclusive and adaptable social protection policies that address the needs of diverse groups while promoting social cohesion and stability. Ultimately, combining these theoretical frameworks offers a robust foundation for comprehending and enhancing social protection systems in an ever-evolving global context. The two-cohort approach promulgated in this paper serves as a foundational construct for researchers to further advance the study of social protection systems and address both structural and individual dimensions to enhance the effectiveness and equity of these systems.

Bibliography

1. Bane M.J. Poverty Politics and Policy. - Focus, Vol. 26 (2), 2009, Pp. 75-80, URL: https://ppc.uiowa.edu/sites/default/files/sites/default/files /uploads/povertypoliticsfocus.pdf. (Downloaded 07.08.2024).

2. Blumer H. Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method | Chapter 1 - The Methodological Position of Symbolic Interactionism. - Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1969, Pp. 1-60, ISBN 0-520-05676-0, URL: https://goo.su/aZtqQU9 (Link Shortened, Downloaded 04.08.2024).

3. Bookch in M. The Ecology of Freedom: The Emergence and Dissolution of Hierarchy. - 1982; repr. 2018, p. 22.

4. Carter M. & Fuller C. Symbolic Interactionism. -Sociopedia.isa, Vol. 1(1), 2015, pp. 1-17, URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/205684601561. (Downloaded 02.08.2024).

5. Corbett T. The Rise and Fall of Poverty as a Policy Issue. - Focus, Vol. 30(2), 2014, pp. 3-8, URL: https://irp.wisc.edu/publications/focus/pdfs/foc302b.pdf. (Downloaded 07.08.2024).

6. Coser L.A. A Theory of Conflict. - Political Science Quarterly, 90(2), 1975, pp. 369-370, URL: https://doi.org/10.2307/2148268. (Downloaded 06.08.2024).

7. Frese M. Cultural Practices, Norms, and Values. -Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46(10), 2015, pp. 1327-1330, URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022115600267. (Downloaded 02.08.2024).

8. Grant, C. & Osanloo A. Understanding, Selecting, and Integrating a Theoretical Framework in Dissertation Research: Creating the Blueprint for Your 'House'. -Administrative Issues Journal Education Practice and Research, 2014, pp. 12-26, URL: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1058505.pdf / DOI: https://doi.org/10.5929/2014.4.2.9. (Downloaded 03.08.2024).

9. Hanna, R. & Karlan, D. Chapter 7 - Designing Social Protection Programs: Using Theory and Experimentation to Understand How to Help Combat Poverty, in A.V. Banerjee and E. Duflo (eds) Handbook of Economic Field Experiments. - North-Holland, 2017, pp. 515-519, URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.hefe.2016.07.002. (Downloaded 03.08.2024).

10. Hesse-Biber S.N. Paradigmatic Approaches to Qualitative Research. In: The Practice of Qualitative Research THIRD EDITION. - Boston College, USA: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2022, pp.18-28.

11. How A. Critical Theory. - Houndmills, England, New York, N.Y.: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003, p. 3.

12. Gougherty M. & Puentes, J. Levels of Analysis: Macro Level and Micro Level. - Pressbooks.pub, 2024, URL: https://goo. su/Atjj f (Link Shortened, Downloaded 02.08.2024).

13. Knorr-Cetina K. & Cicourel A.V. Advances in Social Theory and Methodology: Toward an Integration of Micro- and Macro-Sociologies. - London: United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, 2014, pp. 1-7.

14. Kukla A. Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science. - Routledge, 2013, pp. 1-18, ISBN 0-41523419-0, URL: http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/5367/1/16 .pdf. (Downloaded 03.08.2024).

15. McPhail C. Blumer's Theory of Collective Behavior: the Development of a Non-Symbolic Interaction Explanation. - The Sociological Quarterly, 30(3), 1989, pp. 401-423, URL: https://www.j stor.org/stable/4120849. (Downloaded 02.08.2024).

16. Niiniluoto Il. et al. Handbook of Epistemology. -Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic, 2004, pp. 3-4, URL: https://philpapers.org/archive/MORSAE-6.pdf. (Downloaded 02.08.2024).

17. Scott W.R. Approaching Adulthood: The Maturing of Institutional Theory. - Theory and Society, 37, 2008, pp. 427-442. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11186-008-9067-z (Downloaded 02.08.2024).

18. Segalman R. Interactionist Theory, Human Behavior Social Work and Social Work Education. - The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, Vol. 5(4), Article 3, 1978, pp. 467-480, URL: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.1295. (Downloaded 02.08.2024).

19. Turner J.H. & Maryanski A. Functionalism. - Menlo Park, Calif.: Benjamin/Cummings Pub. Co, 1979, pp. 127, ISBN 0-8053-9338-2, URL: https://shorturl.at/FTu5s. (Downloaded 03.08.2024).

20. UNICEF. Reaching Children with a Holistic Approach. - 2023, p. 4, URL: https://www.unicef.org/media/ 147161/file/Reaching%20 children%20with%20a%20holistic%20approach.pdf (Downloaded 07.08.2024).

21. Wight C. After Postpositivism? The Promises of Critical Realism. - International Studies Quarterly, 44(2), 2000, pp. 213-237, URL: https://www.academia.edu/21127898/After Postpositivis m_The_Promises_of_Critical_Realism. (Downloaded 03.08.2024).

CdaHa/^wU&Utfhi t 16.10.2024 Pe^mupoBaHa/O-pwfanutfhi t 04.11.2024 npuHxma/CUqniUtfhi t 11.11.2024