"The
social dimension of globalization refers to the impact of globalization on the life and work of people, on their families, and their societies. Concerns and issues are often raised about the impact of globalization on employment, working conditions, income and social protection. Beyond the world of work, the
social dimension encompasses security, culture and identity, inclusion or exclusion and the cohesiveness of families and communities."
(World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization,
The Social Dimension of Globalization, 2002, visited 2010-08-12)
The Social Dimension in the European Union
"Since adopting the Lisbon Strategy in 2000, the Union has re-centred its efforts towards constructing a European social and economic model which is competitive and adapted to the realities of our times. The European Council of Lisbon thus gave the Union the objective of by 2010 becoming ‘the most competitive and dynamic information economy in the world […], capable of durable economic growth accompanied by quantitative and qualitative improvement in employment and greater social cohesion'.
This plan considers the
social dimension as the result of economic prosperity. While the main lines of this strategy and the claims upon which it is based are not contested, the content of the policies undertaken at Union level to ‘realise Lisbon' are for their part the object of debate, particularly in regards to how these policies might be assessed with just three years remaining before the strategy draws to a close. […]
The objective of social cohesion emphasized by Lisbon […] presupposes voluntarist [sic] policies and the pursuit of social rule harmonisation at the European level. It also presupposes greater integration of the
social dimension within the Union's various sectoral policies (commercial policy, competition policy, deepening of the internal market). In a context marked by the aging of the European population and increasing mobility, this involves defining new social protections at the European level around four objectives:
Avoiding downward levelling of systems of social protection as a consequence of exacerbation of inter-territorial competition both within and outside of Europe; Enhancing workforce participation, particularly among women, young people and older workers; Allowing men and women to reconcile professional and family life as they wish; Guaranteeing citizens fair access to the advantages and opportunities offered by the European construction in what concerns mobility in the single market, adaptation to globalisation and the promotion of human capital."
(Centre d'analyse stratégique,
Reviving the Social Dimension of the European Political Project Contribution and proposals, 2007, visited 2010-08-12)