Indicators of social quality and social exclusion at national and community level

This paper explores the domains and indicators of social inclusion and excl usion and their interaction at national and community level, within the con text of the social quality construct and the notions of Demos and Ethnos. Social inclusion/exclusion is conceptualised dynamically within the overarc hing construct of social quality. Micro and macro aspects of social quality are discussed along with the relationship between organisations and instit utions and communities, groups and individuals. The relationship between th ese levels is explored in relation to Delanty's distinction between Demos a nd Ethos. Drawing on the work of McMillan and Chevis, two domains of commun ity are identified - identification and participation. Relevant attributes and indicators are suggested for each domain. Interactions between social inclusion and exclusion at national and communi ty level are then exemplified, ranging from inclusion to exclusion both com munally and nationally via intermediate stages of inclusion in one realm an d exclusion in the other. Social policy implications of the relationship be tween national and community exclusion are drawn, both for macro/institutio n and organisational levels (in relation to legislation and society-wide se rvice provisions) and micro and group and citizen level (in relation to soc ial work).