ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the development of social exclusion. The UK government's earliest definition of social exclusion was quite broad and limited. Social exclusion is multidimensional, and can encompass lack of access to employment, legal redress and markets; a lack of political voice. Social exclusion is a short-hand term for what can happen when people or areas have a combination of problems, such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime and family breakdown. The Lisbon and Nice European Councils set out a strategy for combating poverty and social exclusion in Europe. It was agreed that all member states of European Union (EU) should aim to make a 'decisive impact on social exclusion by 2010. Whilst the term 'social justice' has been core to centre-left politics for some considerable time, it came to the fore in terms of current social policy as a result of the inquiry by and final report from the Commission on Social Justice.
