Theories of Democratic Network Governance †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Theories of Democratic Network Governance. Answer: Introduction Problem of homelessness is very rampant in Canada resulting in drug addiction, prolonged mental illness. Statistics have revealed that nearly 35,000 people in Canada suffer from the crisis of homelessness (Stage, 2015). Many people have blamed the Canadian government for their problem of coping up with increasing number of homeless people in Canada. Problem Statement: homelessness and mental imbalance and social alienation amongst people in Canada. The problem of homelessness would be assessed from two perspectives: conflict theory perspective and feminist perspective to obtain two different understanding of the situation. There are number of well-renowned perspectives on the concept of homelessness among the mentally un-well people. Some of the widely exploited perspectives are the sociological perspectives on homelessness, feminist perspectives, conflict based perspectives, symbolist interactional perspectives and functionalist perspectives. If one views homeless from the standpoint of conflict theory, he/she can be able to witness a contradiction in the entirety of homelessness (Srensen Torfing, 2016). The theory suggests that masters at the core level systematically exploit the workers depriving them of their mental recreation and basic sustenance elements. Whereas on the other hand the people are of the opinion that they are properly supplied with and taken care of by their masters and they slowly become dependent on their capitalistic masters for their life sustenance. Other theorists believe that homelessness and poverty resulting in psychological imbalance is a failure of capitalistic society and their inability to are results of the masters inability to cope up with economic instability in the society and contribute more to it (Stage, 2015). From their approach it is the economy and the pattern of supply and demand that deprives a number of people basic living resources. However, conflict theorists blame the entire system of homelessness on the structure of a capitalist economy, masters exploitation of the poor and unequal distribution of resources. In a capitalistic economy, the population is segregated into two categories, namely those who are in possession of capital and those who are bereft of it. In conflict perspective however, homelessness of the mentally un-well human beings is not seen as a flaw of capitalistic society but rather the laziness or de-motivation of the people to aim for a comfortable and upgraded life (Srensen Torfing, 2016). Marxs conflict theory holds the opinion that it is fundamentally the inadequacy of the people who fail to carve their social position and therefore are unable to meet with their basic requirements that will prevent them from their crisis (Reinecke, 2015). The blunder of mentally un-well people remains in their willingness to descend into the situation without making adequate usage of power and resources. Under conflict theory, Marx believes that capitalistic society slowly produces individuals who become alienated from their inner self and grow attached to the external materialistic world. This furthermore benefits the capitalists in exploiting the workers and ensures that they take part in capitalism by consuming their own labor (Boyd, 2015). It is at this juncture that Marx argues mentally unbalanced and homeless people are those who fail to grasp a true understanding of class consciousness and capitalism, bereft of its lies and pretensions The main aspect of conflict theory is to view on the macro issues of the society contributing to the enormous problems (Stage, 2015). Feminist Perspective The concept of homelessness revolves around the idea of home which is synonymous with ones involvement with the society and stability. The concept of housing is also related with an individuals power to participate in the mainstream society. However, the level of deprivation that these homeless people face is primarily relative. In many theories homelessness of the mentally un-well people is viewed as a social problem which further pinpoints to a number of social problems and drawbacks (Ravenhill, 2016). Homelessness is actually a symbol of a major problem of the social structure, which furthermore dictates the identity of the homeless people in relation to the other members of the society. The feminist perspective of homelessness of mentally un-well individuals views homelessness both from the perspective of within and outside of a household. The feminist perspective acknowledges the relationship of a woman with her household as one of the prime aspects of homelessness (Lfstrand Quilgars, 2016). It brings forth the power equation that involves the homeless human beings. The womans economic inter-dependence and labor structure of the households decide her living conditions. The construction of new identity for these homeless people further amplifies their mental un-wellness, helplessness, lack of privacy and retreat. The feminist perspective poses a direct challenge to traditional notions of homeless people irrespective of their gender. According to Pleace, (2016) feminist perspective the prior consideration of gender is necessary to investigate deep into the factor, modes and level of exploitation. The homeless and un-well people are free from their gender constraints since they are detached from mainstream society. These homeless people can be masculine and feminine. A womans access to housing is limited or determined b y her dependence on husband for supporting the household financially (Mostowska Sheridan, 2016). Women tend to feel more subordinated due to their dependence on the male members of the family and this exerts a major impact on the concept of homelessness. The housing security that a woman enjoys from her household is a major part of homelessness. Domestic violence, marital rape are all factors that create a sort of mental alienation and disturbance within an individual and therefore she tends to view her home as a hostile place torn of love and warmth. Therefore even if the woman has a safe and secured home, a roof and shelter, she can be afraid of her safety and dignity therein and crave for a more secured place. In that case, the individual will still be considered homeless, and the social relations can take the shape of burdens in her life. She is potentially a homeless creature accentuated by domestic violation, economic dependence and the lack of recognition of her place within the household (Mostowska Sheridan, 2016). Therefore, the feminist theory provides a totally different perspective on the entire concept of homelessness (Lfstrand Quilgars, 2016). The homeless individual suffer from the autonomy of power and turns into a victim due to their lack of social positioning, political and economic power (Lfstrand Quilgars, 2016). Conclusion From the above case study it can be analyzed that homelessness in a problem of power imbalance in society resulting in unequal distribution of resources and materials. Based on the research evidence one possible solution is proliferation of welfare states which will enable people to pay for their basic rent and amenities. This would reduce the gap between the have and have-nots and make way for a better society. Reference List: Boyd, A. K. (2015).Restorative Environments: A campus for trafficked youth in Chiang Rai, Thailand(Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/27356 Lfstrand, C. H., Quilgars, D. (2016). Cultural Images and Definitions of Homeless Women: Implications for Policy and Practice at the European Level. InWomens Homelessness in Europe(pp. 41-73). Palgrave Macmillan, London. Mostowska, M., Sheridan, S. (2016). Migrant Women and Homelessness. InWomens Homelessness in Europe(pp. 235-263). Palgrave Macmillan, London. Pleace, N. (2016). Researching homelessness in Europe: theoretical perspectives.European Journal of Homelessness, 19-44. Ravenhill, M. (2016).The culture of homelessness. Routledge. Reinecke, C. (2015). Localising the Social: The Rediscovery of Urban Poverty in Western European Affluent Societies.Contemporary European History,24(4), 555-576. Srensen, E., Torfing, J. (Eds.). (2016).Theories of democratic network governance. Springer. Stage, P. K. (2015). Young, Homeless and Alone.