Mike Hollinshead's thought experiment would be more scientific than the
proposed "Joint Project for a Comparative Study of Begging in Europe"
because the down and outs are less likely to have a carefully worked out
ideological screen that serves to first *define* and then *discover* the
phenomenon being researched as "natural". Without such a definition, one
couldn't write a "research proposal", which is of course why the European
Commissions or the UK Economic and Social Research Councils don't have to
worry much about receiving a proposal from a group of down and outers.
>To see how obscene this suggestion is, do a mind experiment. Have the down
>and outs conduct the same study of rich people to see why they are such a
>problem - walking into their lives, observing, interviewing in their
>drawing rooms and clubs and offices and then making recommendations to
>faceless bureaucrats and poor people sitting in authority to implement
>social and police policies to "deal with them."
>
>These are people, not stick insects.
>
>Try responding as human beings instead. Do as George Orwell did. Go live
>on the street for a year and them write a novel that enables others to meet
>these people and feel the pain, hopelessness and suffering as well as
>understand why and what can be done.
>
>For an idea of what to do, I suggest reading "Down and Out in London and
>Paris".
>
>Mike H
>
>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 13:32:54 GMT
>>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>Subject: begging in Europe
>>
>>Organization: University of Luton
>>Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 13:19:35 GMT
>>Priority normal
>>Subject: begging in Europe
>>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>>Dear Colleagues,
>>
>>Joint Project for a Comparative Study of Begging in Europe: Partner
>>Search
>>
>>We are looking for partners who might apply together with us to
>>Brussels for funding for a joint project. We aim to seek funding
>>through the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission, and
>>possibly additional or parallel funding from the UK Department for
>>International Development and/or the UK Economic and Social Research
>>Council.
>>
>>The proposed international comparative project will focus on begging in
>>Western and Eastern Europe.
>>
>>Background
>>
>>The Department of Applied Social Studies at the University of Luton
>>includes a small group of social policy specialists with interests in
>>issues of welfare and citizenship, social exclusion and informal and
>>street-level economic activities, both in the UK and in Eastern Europe.
>>Specifically, individual members of this group have recently undertaken
>>a pilot study of begging in England and Scotland, conducted research on
>>street homelessness in Russia, and organised a successful national
>>seminar on begging A book based on the contributions to this seminar is
>>due to be published in September [Dean, H. (ed.) Begging and
>>Street-level Economic Activity, The Policy Press].
>>
>>We now hope to set up an international comparative project on begging
>>and its implications for social policy.
>>
>>Objectives of the project
>>
>>The proposed project will address the proliferation of begging
>>throughout Europe as a reflection of processes resulting from
>>transformations in the nature of differing types of welfare states. The
>>research project would seek:
>>
>>1) To provide an understanding of the limits of welfare provision in
>>various welfare cultures as reflected in the emergence of wide-spread
>>street-level economic activities in general, and in begging in
>>particular. We will look at the significance of changes in the
>>distribution of public resources, in social security, housing, and
>>mental health provision which exacerbate or produce social exclusion and
>>begging. We are also planning to study how the processes of
>>international and domestic migration and exclusion of migrants from
>>citizenship/residency rights lead to the increase in begging.
>>
>>2) To determine how the increase in the informal economic activities,
>>including begging, reflects the changes in global economic conditions
>>and labour markets and the changing nature of work in various European
>>countries.
>>
>>3) To study the extent of begging and, in particular, the composition
>>of the population that obtain their living (or a part of it) by begging
>>in different European cities in order to reveal the cultural factors
>>which influence how, where and in what circumstances people may resort
>>to begging. We plan to study the social and demographic characteristics
>>of beggars, their ethnicity and citizenship, and access to welfare
>>rights. Although we do not envisage a quantitative survey of begging,
>>relevant sources on the numbers and characteristics of people who beg
>>will be identified and studied.
>>
>>4) To reveal the particular characteristics of begging as an informal
>>economic activity, including the various strategies adopted by beggars
>>in interaction with the members of the public, the interrelationship
>>between begging and other forms of informal and street-level economic
>>activity, and the interrelationship between begging and homelessness.
>>
>>5) To address the issue of begging and citizenship, including the
>>beggars' perceptions of their citizenship rights and obligations in a
>>particular culture. We would look at the issue of whether and to what
>>extent the beggars remain a part of the social and cultural mainstream
>>and are subject to the same ideological influences; including the issue
>>of alternative lifestyles.
>>
>>7) To implement a cross-cultural study of perceptions of begging. We
>>would look at such issues as perceptions of undeserving and deserving
>>poor in various cultures, perceived causes of begging and relationship
>>between political beliefs and the attitudes to beggars.
>>
>>8) To study the policy initiatives in relation to begging at the
>>national and local levels, both those directed to the regulation and
>>control of begging and those directed to the protection and assistance
>>of street people.
>>
>>Research Methods
>>
>>We would probably aim to conduct research in five major European cities.
>>Research methods would include in every country:
>>
>>- a comprehensive literature review;
>>- a public opinion survey of perceptions of begging (as appropriate, in
>>order to complement existing data sources);
>>- observation and in-depth interviews with beggars;
>>- semi-structured interviews with policy makers and practitioners.
>>
>>
>>We are looking for active partners in Western European countries other
>>than the UK and in Eastern Europe, but also, possibly, potential
>>collaborators from other UK institutions with direct experience of
>>research in this field. If you are interested in participating in this
>>project, we would very much like to hear from you. Please get in touch
>>with me, indicating:
>>
>>- the basis of your interest;
>>- the specific expertise or facilities which you are able to offer;
>>- the particular components of the proposed project with which you
>>might be able to assist;
>>- any ideas or suggestions you may wish to contribute or share with us
>>in relation to the development of the project.
>>
>>Yours sincerely
>>
>>Dr. Svetlana Sidorenko-Stephenson
>>Department of Applied Social Studies
>>University of Luton
>>Park Square
>>Luton
>>LU1 3JU
>>UK
>>Tel: +44 (0)1582 732886
>>Fax: +44 (0)1582 734265
>>E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Facing the Future Inc
>15003 56 Avenue
>Edmonton AB T6H 5B2
>CANADA
>(780) 438 7342 ph or fax.
>
>
>
>
>
>
regards,
Tom Walker
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/covenant.htm
