ABSTRACT
Political action and economic measures are fundamental for ensuring adequate social provision in a diverse Europe. Social welfare as a process does take place within the context of the political system and is all the more critical because, as we enter the twenty-first century, many of the gains of the modern state in the nineteenth century, including political, civil and cultural rights, are being reversed. Interculturalism as a dynamic of inter-group relations in multicultural European societies can either be positive and inclusive, or racist or exclusive. Exclusion in socially and culturally diverse societies and nations breeds mentalities of exclusivity. Issues of xenophobia and racism in Europe, as in other parts of the world, have relevance for public and social policy and it is for parliamentarians to consider these matters, refine them and to develop their own agenda. The role of politics in society is predicated on the fact that political education itself is necessary for all sections of society.
