Unia Europejska wobec paradygmatu inwestycji społecznych

Abstrakt

European Union’s position towards social investment paradigm

In this paper the author analyses the new social investment paradigm which has been applied by the Euro­pean Union since several years. The main aim is to present the attitude and activities of the European Com­mission in order to implement this new paradigm in the member states’ social policies. The reasons of es­tablishment the investment paradigm in social development policy are explained. The main elements of the social investment concept as: activisation, productivity, social services orientation, combating social exclusion are described. The economic, social, demographic and cultural changes in Europe during the last twenty years and their impact on new social risks development are considered. The article also contains the characteristics of two case studies of social investment which has been implemented in the selected Euro­pean countries. The first one is the „Big Society Capital” and the second is ASOS Programme. At the end of the paper the author discusses the main critical points which refer to the social investment paradigm and arouse controversy among scholars.