The Dialectical Relationship between Human Resource Development and the Realization of Social Justice within Social Security Systems: A Political Philosophy Perspective

Abstract

Human Resource Development (HRD) is of key importance to respond to the issues raised in financial instability, labor precarity, and the crisis of welfare states that have brought the reconsideration of social policy. The given research has the purpose of investigating the correlation between HRD and social justice with reference to the modern social security systems (SSS). Research focuses on two prevailing models, namely, (neo)liberal, so-called activation policies, in which HRD is identified as a market integration instrument, and the social investment model, which regards HRD as a mechanism of broadening human capacities. As a qualitative study using a documentary methodology, the research question of the study is how these models understand social justice. Overall, the main conclusions are that both models fail to talk about social justice in a complex way, particularly the recognition and representation of marginalized populations. Although the (neo)liberal approach facilitates employability, it introduces a punitive structure, and the social investment approach highlights the acquisition of skills, but overlooks the social inequalities in general. The paper ends with the prescription of a more democratic HRD pattern, buttressed by an unconditional social security floor, to make the social policy focus on human emancipation instead of coercive employability. Such a model would not be concerned with the profit agendas, but instead, the welfare of people would be highly valued, resulting in a fairer and balanced society. The suggested solution involves re-conceptualizing social policy whereby all people will have access to opportunities of personal and social development without being bound by the dictates of economic necessity.