Responsible Citizenship and the Residualized Welfare State

One Step Forward and Two Steps Back: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Reversed Integration Processes among Refugees in Norway

“…In the wake of the financial crisis in Europe, new and innovative ways of reducing bureaucratic costs and efficient solutions to social demands and challenges have been on the agenda (Kourachanis 2020). Such a focus has led to a paradigmatic shift in social policies across Europe heavily influenced by neoliberal discourses and reforms, which promote market liberalisation and professionalism intending to decrease welfare dependency (Bagavos & Kourachanis 2022;Kamali & Jönsson 2018;Kourachanis 2020). The Nordic countries, which traditionally have been regarded as developed welfare states with a strong public sector, are also influenced by this shift and are becoming more similar to other welfare states in Europe (Kamali & Jönsson 2018).…”

“…The concept of welfare pluralism focuses on how various actors can provide welfare services and is characterised by a purposeful duplication of activities in a pluralised market of services (Dahlberg 2005). The financial crisis in Europe contributed to accepting welfare pluralism as the dominant approach to resolving social issues, which led to increased recognition of CSOs as solutions (Bagavos & Kourachanis 2022;Kourachanis 2020). Although a general trend towards expanding the role of civil society, this varies over time and in different contexts.…”

“…Both the proliferation of neoliberal reforms in European welfare states and the financial crisis have contributed to an increased focus on the potential embedded in civil society (Kourachanis 2020). Moreover, the post-2014 refluxes of refugees made the public sector in many European countries struggle to satisfy the need for labour market integration services (Numerato, C ˇada & Hor ˇení 2019).…”