Table 3 Definitions of Social Exclusion

Room 1997 [100]

Social exclusion focuses primarily on relational issues - inadequate social participation, lack of social integration and lack of power.

Brennan et al. 1998 [101]

Those people who [are socially excluded] do not have the means, material or otherwise, to participate in social, economic political and cultural life.

Power 2000 [102]

[Social exclusion is defined as] the inability of our society to keep all groups and individuals within reach of what we expect as a society and the tendency to push vulnerable people into the least popular places.

Sayce 2000 [60]

[Social exclusion involves] the interlocking and mutually compounding problems of impairment, discrimination, diminished social role, lack of economic and social participation and disability. Among the factors at play are lack of status, joblessness, lack of opportunities to establish family, small or non-existing social networks, compounding race and other discriminators, repeated rejection and consequent restrictions of hope and expectation.

Burchardt et al. 2002 [103]

Social exclusion occurs when an individual does not participate in key activities of the society in which he or she lives, for reasons beyond their control and in which they would like to ‘participate’.

Council for the European Union 2003 [61]

Social exclusion is a process whereby certain individuals are pushed to the edge of society and prevented from participating fully by virtue of their poverty, or lack of basic competencies and lifelong learning opportunities, or as a result of discrimination. This distances them from job, income and education opportunities as well as social and community networks and activities. They have little access to power and decision-making bodies and thus often feeling powerless and unable to take control over the decisions that affect their day to day lives.

UK Social Exclusion Unit 2004 [59]

Social exclusion is what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, poor health and family breakdown. In the past, governments tried to deal with each of the problems of social exclusion individually, but there was little success in tackling the complicated links between them, or preventing problems from arising in the first place.

Levitas et al. 2007 [104]

Social exclusion is a complex and multi-dimensional process. It involves the lack or denial of resources, rights, goods and services, and the inability to participate in the normal relationships and activities, available to the majority of people in a society, whether in economic, social, cultural or political arenas. It affects both the quality of life of individuals and the equity and cohesion of society as a whole.

Popay et al. 2008 (WHO SEKN Report) [8]

Exclusion consists of dynamic, multi-dimensional processes driven by unequal power relationships. These operate along and interact across four dimensions - cultural, economic, political and social and at different levels including individuals, groups, households, communities, countries and global regions. Exclusionary processes contribute to health inequalities by creating a continuum of inclusion/exclusion. This continuum is characterised by an unjust distribution of resources and unequal capabilities and rights required to: create the conditions necessary for entire populations to meet and exceed basic needs, enable participatory and cohesive social systems, value diversity, guarantee peace and human rights, sustain environmental systems.