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Title | Author(s) | Publishing Date | Keywords | |
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Statement on Lebanon's adoption of its long-awaited National Social Protection Strategy | The Centre for Social Sciences Research and Action | February, 2024 |
The Centre for Social Sciences Research and Action (CeSSRA) applauds Lebanon’s adoption of its first-ever National Social Protection Strategy which constitutes an important milestone towards social justice in the country. This strategy represents a crucial step in establishing a new social contract between the state and its citizens, with social rights as one of its main pillars. |
Social Security, Inclusive Social Security, Social Protection, Universal Social Protection, Social Policy, Lebanon |
Failure to Protect: the Deficiencies of the Tunisian Social Protection Framework | Sahar Mechmech , Kais Attia | October, 2023 |
This policy paper underscores the imperative for Tunisia to cultivate sustainable and inclusive economic growth while establishing an all-encompassing, universal, and enduring social protection system that safeguards the most vulnerable segments of society. The prevailing social protection system in Tunisia is characterised by significant deficiencies, characterised by high exclusion rates and inadequate safety nets. |
Tunisia, Social Security, Health, Economic & Social Rights, Social Protection System |
Poverty, Precarity, and Isolation: The Economic Situation of Syria’s “Middle Class” | Mohamad Blakah , Miriam Younes | October, 2023 |
This paper examines the repercussions of Syria's prolonged economic crisis, primarily in Damascus, Hasaka, and Idleb, initiated by the conflict's onset in 2011. The nation has witnessed a severe economic decline with a staggering 300 percent inflation rate, leading to uncontrollable price spikes for essential commodities, rendering them financially inaccessible to most Syrians. Over 90 percent of the population now resides below the poverty line, grappling with poverty, job insecurity, and precarious living conditions. This study focuses on the contemporary status, challenges, and self-perceptions of individuals who identify as "middle class" in Syria. The research is based on comprehensive, semi-structured, and longitudinal telephone interviews with eight Syrian residents between October 2022 and January 2023. The paper underscores the difficulties in maintaining a reasonable standard of living, the scarcity of essential goods and services, and the lack of basic infrastructure in urban areas. Many participants employ individual strategies, including receiving remittances or leveraging personal connections to access necessities. Furthermore, participants express disillusionment with prospects for transformative change, a sense of resignation, and the need to endure day-to-day. They face limitations in expressing grievances, providing mutual support, uniting against challenges, or engaging in acts of protest against prevailing conditions. |
Syria, Social Justice, Poverty, Socio-economic Rights |
ورقة موقف: الديمقراطية شرطٌ أساسيّ في الطريق نحو إصلاح الدولة والنظام في لبنان | The Centre for Social Sciences Research and Action | July, 2023 |
ورقة موقف لمركز العلوم الاجتماعية للأبحاث التطبيقية (CeSSRA) حول تقرير نشره صندوق النقد الدولي عن لبنان ضمن المادّة الرابعة في ٢٩ حزيران/يونيو ٢٠٢٣ |
Lebanon, International Monetary Fund, International Financial Institutions, Social Protection System, Socio-economic reforms |
Position paper: The road to reforming the state and the system in Lebanon must be democratically led | The Centre for Social Sciences Research and Action | July, 2023 |
Position paper by the CeSSRA's International Financial Institutions Monitor on the Lebanon report published by the fund under article IV on 29 June 2023. |
Lebanon, International Monetary Fund, International Financial Institutions, Social Protection System, Socio-economic reforms |
نحو سياسات حماية اجتماعية مستدامة وشاملة للّاجئين/ات السوريين/ات في الأردن | Jalal Al Husseini | December, 2022 |
تقدّم هذه الورقة البحثية تحليل حول كيفيّة تكيَّفَ نظام اللاجئين/ات في الأردن مع احتياجات اللاجئين/ات السوريين/ات من الحماية الاجتماعية، وإلى أيّ مدى. تعرض أوّلًا في مقدمتها خصائصهم/نّ الديموغرافية الرئيسية وتطوُّر وضعهم/نّ القانوني في الأردن منذ وصولهم/نّ إلى البلد في ۲۰۱٢/۲۰۱١. ومن هذا المنطلق، يُحلِّل القسمان الثاني والثالث الفُرَص والقيود القانونية والعملية المتعلّقة بإمكانية وصولهم/نّ إلى خدمات الحماية الاجتماعية، سواء بشكل خدمات المساعدة الاجتماعية (الحماية الاجتماعية من الفئة الأولى) و/أو كضمان اجتماعي يرتبط بالعمل النظامي (الحماية الاجتماعية من الفئة الثانية). أمّا القسم الرابع فيُلخِّص النتائج الرئيسية ويُقدِّم توصيات ترمي إلى تحسين الحماية الاجتماعية لصالح اللاجئين/ات السوريين/ات. |
Syrian Refugees, Migration, Jordan, Social policies, Inclusion Policies, Social Protection |
Towards Durable and Inclusive Social Protection Policies for Syrian Refugees in Jordan | Jalal Al Husseini | December, 2022 |
The briefing paper analyses how - and to what extent - Jordan’s refugee regime has adapted to the social protection needs of the Syrian refugee population. It first presents, by way of introduction, their main demographic characteristics and the evolution of their legal status in Jordan since their arrival in the country in 2011/2012. On this basis, the second and third sections analyse the legal and practical opportunities and limitations to their access to social protection services, either as social assistance services (SP1) and/or as formal employment-related social security (SP2). The fourth section summarises the main findings of the paper and puts forward recommendations designed to improve social protection on behalf of Syrian refugees. |
Syrian Refugees, Migration, Jordan, Social policies, Inclusion Policies, Social Protection |
Towards the rise of the unprotected? Neoliberalism, social policies, and socio-economic contention in contemporary Jordan | Rossana Tufaro | November, 2022 |
The Jordanian welfare and economic system underwent a drastic neo-liberal transition, sponsored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and state policies that aimed at progressively dismantling the distributive welfare mechanisms as well as job provision at the basis of the hashemite authoritarian bargain. This paper provides a historical overview of the ways in which Jordan’s neoliberal transition has pushed the country into a continuous state of socio-economic contention, characterized by workers' mobilizations and the periodical resurgence of anti-government mass protests, and hence an understanding of the current social contention in the country. |
Jordan, Neo-liberalism, socio-economic demands, labour movement, Mobilisations, Social Movements |
The Meaning(s) of Social Justice: Political Imaginaries from the October Movement in Lebanon | Nadim Haidar | October, 2022 |
Lebanon has witnessed a massive protest movement in 2019, commonly referred to as the “October Revolution”. The social movement denounced the Lebanese political and economic system, and demanded social justice. This paper investigates the political imaginaries of the protestors and proposes a discursive analysis that probes into their motives and positions. It further examines the various understandings and interpretations of social justice that underpinned the actions and visions of the social movement’s participants. The paper also aims to uncover the ideological assumptions as well as political limitations of the political imaginaries engendered by the “October Revolution”. |
Lebanon, Social Justice, Socio-economic Rights, Political Imaginaries, Social Movements, October Protests |
Crisis and Retirement: Elderly in the Public Sector are struggling to secure their needs | Luna Dayekh | September, 2022 |
Building on the stories and experiences of four retired individuals in the military forces and public sector, this paper explores the limitations of the existing social insurance and pension schemes and questions their realities in light of the multiple and overlapping crises Lebanon is currently facing. The article highlights how the current crisis has brought considerable social and economic downgrading to public and military personnel, as the provided healthcare services and pension schemes are no longer adequate or a source of safety in their old age. The article concludes that the pension schemes are insufficient to ensure a dignified life for these individuals and their families. |
Lebanon, Social Protection, Poverty, Elderly, Pension, Retirement, Military Forces, Public Sector |