Social Quality theory in perspective
Abstract
For its theoretical development, the social quality (SQ) theory was given birth in
1997, with its original aim directed at addressing the social dimension of
state-policy making in Europe, against the neo-liberal Washington consensus,
and the handmaiden position of all other public policies. However, after a decade of development, this
theory has been developed from various dimensions, as evidenced where SQ theories are applied to particular topics.
Accordingly, the merits of this theory can be understood as a normative
guideline for policy-making and practice, as a scheme of reference for
understanding relevant conditional structures as the basis for this guideline, and
as a socio-political goal to enable people to act in a democratic way.