Flexicurity and the semantic transformation of the concept of security: the modernisation of the Spanish social protection

Abstract

During the last decade, flexicurity has appeared as the cornerstone to face the problems of vulnerability and social exclusion. In order to preserve the adaptation to the 'taken for granted' need to change and the capacity to re-define competences and skills of employees, the regulatory frames of the labour markets have undertaken a deep political and axiological transformation. This paper – based on an ongoing research project – will explore these new models of governance in the Spanish context focusing on how flexicurity has been translated and developed by the public employment agencies. These developments have enhanced the 'de-politisation' of work and strengthened the 'psychologisation' of social protection.