The Social Systems Theoretical Consideration of Inclusion and Exclusion

Recently social exclusion has become a key societal concept, and thus developing strategies for social inclusion have become the objective of many studies, especially with regard to social policy issues.<br>Sociologists have attempted to demonstrate and examine the reality of social exclusion as it relates to diverse poverty. Few studies, however, consider social inclusion and exclusion as a pair contrastive concept.<br>Our concern is to examine the formation of social exclusion and inclusion in modern society from a social systems theory viewpoint. For this purpose, we consider Parson's concept of inclusion and Luhmann's scheme of inclusion/exclusion. Luhmann, for example, points out that the principle of inclusion is entrusted to the regulation of functional systems. Modern society pursues the functional performance of collectivity by personal contributions based on organizational selection of members and decision-making. We further consider the operational aspect of the inclusion principle, which involves the organizational activity of exclusion. Accordingly, Luhmann views exclusion as a result of a functional differentiated society and stresses the social divide; however, he insufficiently argues the adjustment of social exclusion.<br>Then, we argue the regulation of functional systems and possibilities of non-exclusion through the anti-exclusive communication of equality/inequality and by alternations of programs related to functional systems. Although the mechanism of inclusion comprises individual and social levels, the possibility of social inclusion is still attempted semantically. We assume that this is an adjustable aspect of the inclusion principle.<br>Finally, we conclude that sustainability of modern society is reinforced when the normalizations of social exclusion bring continuing existence, and semantics of social inclusion restore the social divide. Although the mechanism of social systems is different from our reality of everyday life, we realize the formation of social exclusion and inclusion through the communication of negative operational results.