The Social Policy Conference

From the point of view of social and public policy, this theme is particularly linked to social security. In a broader context, numerous prefixes can be attached to security, such as psychological, social, bodily security and everyday security. In this way, it becomes possible to identify various risks that threaten individuals and communities, which individuals, groups and communities are expected to prepare for. In this sense, security is a type of resource, also from the point of view of traditional security politics. 

What forms of economic security does the post-capitalist welfare state produce and what are we called upon to resort to? Private insurance, investment in funds or real estate are among the means of security, the importance of which has risen alongside – or even to replace – social insurance. 

Security and the lack of it, insecurity, are powerful generators of emotions and affects. What means do we have to strengthen the sense of security that is eroded by the precarity of life? What kind of security can we all afford, can we still rely on jointly produced social security? The division of labour between municipalities, the state, wellbeing services counties, associations and companies is in a constant state of negotiation, and this, too, may cause mistrust and insecurity. 

With this theme of the Social Policy Conference, we want to raise the question of the possibilities of institutions, individuals and communities to support and strengthen ontological and everyday security. We talk about the faith in the future, trust and the ability to plan for the future. 

You are warmly welcome to the Social Policy Conference 2024 in Joensuu!

Keynote speakers
The main speakers for this year’s Social Policy Conference are Associate Professor Emma Power from the Western Sydney University, and University Researcher Noora Kotilainen from the University of Helsinki.

Schedule
Call for workshops ends 10.6.2024.
The chosen workshops will be announced in June.
Workshop papers’ abstracts are due 9.9.2024.
The accepted abstracts will be announced no later than 18.9.2024.
Registration for the conference will be open 18.9.–13.10.2024.

Please see updating information on The Social Policy Conference web pages. 

For further information, please contact Mikko Jakonen, email mikko.jakonen@uef.fi.