GOVERNARE I LAVORATORI POVERI IN FRANCIA E IN ITALIA. Una prospettiva comparata sul Workfare/Governing the working poor in France and Italy: A comparative perspective on workfare

Abstract

Abstract

The article analyzes, from a comparative perspective, two different models, in terms of history and level of institutionalization of social activation and work placement policies: the Italian and French cases. Together, these cases are part of a contradictory set of policies that can be defined according to individual national histories but that are related to a plural and evolving political rationality of a neo-liberal nature that has characterized the Euro-American hemisphere since the 1970s. The comparative perspective between two very close yet different countries allows us to understand, from both a historical and socio-political perspective, the formation of a theoretically homogeneous – though administratively and constitutionally differentiated – system that responds to both economic and productive needs of labor market governance and social inclusion. Consistent with a broad analytical literature, this system will be defined in terms of Workfare.
Workfare is understood as the antonym of Welfare, i.e. its ‘dark side’, and will be defined as a conservative welfare state.

Keywords:

Workfare; Reddito di Cittadinanza; Revenu de Solidarité active; Neoliberalism; Italy; France.