Institutional Support for Disadvantaged Categories : Social Inclusion in Question

The reduction of social inequalities and the fight against poverty have always been a hobbyhorse for the public authorities since Algeria's independence, whether in speeches or in the various measures taken. Initially, these measures, which were part of the various development projects launched in the 1970s, were curtailed and put on the back burner, not to say completely disengaged by the State from the beginning of the 1980s with the policy of economic openness.

The economic crisis triggered by the fall in hydrocarbon revenues and the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Plan (SAP) has not only worsened the situation of the underprivileged but has also revealed the effects of the crisis on the middle classes, affected by job insecurity and falling purchasing power. In addition to existing pockets of poverty, the crisis has accentuated socio-economic disparities between regions. The analysis of this issue is based on an analysis of institutional assistance and support for disadvantaged groups through established structures and specific services implemented by the social action departments (DAS) in the wilayas.

One of our first observations, and a question that needs to be explored in greater depth, is that, in addition to the existing regulatory framework, the public authorities, through the social action structures (DAS), are making efforts to support people in precarious living conditions, often depending on the circumstances and financial resources available. Our observation, therefore, is that the actions implemented for the benefit of certain disadvantaged categories are far from being part of a social policy of empowerment (developing the capacity to act) with a view to lifting them out of poverty and getting them into work.

The policy for dealing with the social problems of these categories suffers from the lack of an intersectoral social approach, designed to act on the factors that determine their vulnerability and precariousness. These determinants include not only socio-economic living conditions and psychomotor factors linked to disabilities, for example, but also cultural, moral, political and legislative factors that accentuate stigmatisation and social exclusion.

The perspective of poverty reduction is at the intersection of the development of the capacity to act (empowerment) through institutional support for disadvantaged people with a view to sparing them from structural precariousness and public policies aimed at the social advancement of populations that the public authorities refer to as "shadow areas". this research is about :

1. Understand the concept of social action and how it differs from the concept of solidarity. What is the conceptual basis for this action and what is its vision? What are the social, economic and political issues involved?

2. To identify and analyse the regulatory support and aid arrangements for disadvantaged categories.

3. To study the profiles of the beneficiaries of the aid scheme, understand their strategies and analyse their perceptions of social action. This will enable us to draw up a social map of disadvantaged people.

4. Identify the profiles of decision-makers and social workers, their representations and attitudes.

5. Is the social action system part of an overall public policy strategy dedicated to the sustainable inclusion of disadvantaged people, or is it an instrument for managing social problems according to social, economic and political circumstances?