| Acknowledgements | ix |
| 1. | Introduction | 1 |
| 1. | Shortcomings of Sociological Research | 1 |
| 2. | European Integration - A Social Laboratory | 8 |
| 3. | Outline | 9 |
| 4. | References | 10 |
| The Constitution of New Rationalities in a Circle of Centralisation and Differentiation versus Decentralisation and Dedifferentiation | 13 |
| 1. | Introducing Remarks | 13 |
| 2. | The Problem | 14 |
| 3. | Consequences | 25 |
| 4. | Conclusion | 28 |
| 5. | References | 28 |
| EC-Integration and the Paradox of Modernity | 33 |
| 1. | Preliminary notes | 33 |
| 2. | The Outline | 35 |
| 3. | Modernisation - General Basic Elements of a Social-Analytic Paradigm | 36 |
| 4. | Organisations in the Modern Society as Associated as Well as Associating Social Objects | 45 |
| 5. | The Poverty Programmes of the European Communities - The Realisation of a Problem and the Attempt for its (Radical) Solution | 47 |
| 6. | European Integration -- The Contradictory Process and the Trouble with "Rational Choices" | 50 |
| 7. | Conclusion | 56 |
| 8. | References | 57 |
| The Future of the European Model of Society | 63 |
| 1. | Introduction | 63 |
| 2. | European Integration | 66 |
| 3. | Modernisation | 73 |
| 4. | NGOs Definition - Revisited | 84 |
| 5. | Conclusion | 86 |
| 6. | References | 87 |
| On the Way to a European Welfare State? Perspectives of European Social Policy | 93 |
| 1. | Introduction | 93 |
| 2. | Competencies given by the European Treaties | 94 |
| 3. | European Integration - An Emerging Welfare Regime | 95 |
| 4. | Already a Closed Shop? | 102 |
| 5. | References | 104 |
| Sector or Mixed Systems - A Review of the Third Sector Research from the Perspective of the European Union | 107 |
| References | 114 |
| The Role and Function of Organisations of the Social Economy in Regard of Lifelong Learning | 117 |
| 1. | Introduction | 117 |
| 2. | The Social Dimension of Lifelong Learning -- The Official View | 118 |
| 3. | New Challenges By Changes of the Social Order -- Orientation on Learning New Attitudes | 119 |
| 4. | Points of Reference in Sociology for the New Challenges | 125 |
| 5. | Lifelong Learning, the Development Work Approach and the NGOs | 127 |
| 6. | Lifelong Learning, NGOs and Development Work -- A Unit | 130 |
| 7. | Failures of the Family, The Market and the State in Regard of Lifelong Learning | 130 |
| 8. | Lifelong Learning - Examples of the Contribution of Organisations of the Social Economy | 131 |
| 9. | NGOs -- Bridging the Gap | 134 |
| 10. | Concluding Remarks: The Political Challenges | 134 |
| 11. | References | 135 |
| Ireland, European Union and Identity Building - The Role of Social (Policy) NGOs in the Process of Building a Macro-identity | 137 |
| 1. | Introduction | 137 |
| 2. | Theoretical Points of Departure | 139 |
| 3. | The Recognition and Interpretation of Social Problems | 140 |
| 4. | Mobilisation against Poverty and Social Exclusion | 146 |
| 5. | On the Way to a European Society | 148 |
| 6. | Ireland, the EU and the Perception of Poverty | 150 |
| 7. | References | 152 |
| Index | 157 |
