ABSTRACT
People can become alienated by economic, social, political, and other means. This chapter focuses on the powerless, marginalized individuals who are not central to the orderly function of society. Alienation is not simply a function of being different. People differ on a variety of factors including gender, wealth, social status, political ties, ideology, and religion. The alienated as an administrative archetype highlights a variety of perspectives. It can represent the failings of a governance safety net. It can highlight groups of people that one might not target for marketing purposes. It also highlights opportunities for the nonprofit sector, particularly volunteer groups, to engage alienated people. Street-level bureaucrats who engage alienated people regularly are limited to social service or policing agencies. The alienated are not active participants in society, in politics, or in the economy based on both need and access.
