ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the piecemeal but inexorable penetration of concreteness into the abstract juridical-political infrastructure of modernity. Identity issues and social conflict underpin this process. The chapter discusses each of the aspects of this process, starting with the notions of nation, people and motherhood and moving towards the concept of social rights (returning to Marshall) and sectoralised policies derived from social pluralism. Social policy as such is analysed conceptually. ‘Nature’ is also present. The issues present in the former chapters – especially law, citizenship and representation – are resumed, enriched by the presence of concreteness. The overcoming of pure abstract economic individualism in favour of stronger state intervention in the economy, with an emphasis therefore on concrete issues, is also discussed. In all these aspects authoritarian collectivism was very important and evolved in a dialectical interplay with political modernity. Neopatrimonialism, an internal feature of both civilisational complexes, is then eventually analysed. The historical development of such issues is depicted up to contemporary developments regarding social policy across the world.
