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.