European Welfare States and Minority Groups

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My proposed research question asks how European welfare states respond to the needs of minority groups, specifically the Haredim? I plan on conducting a comparative study between Haredi populations in various European cities and analysing their relationships to the welfare state. Other points of comparison will be between Haredi groups and other minority groups living in the same neighbourhoods. Haredim tend to live in poorer and more ethnically diverse neighbourhoods, so my research proposes to see how they fare in comparison to other minorities in their areas. Since I am essentially interested in understanding causal processes, qualitative case study work makes most sense for my project. Haredi communities are not present in all European Jewish populations so there are limited possibilities for case studies here. The principal areas in which Haredim live in Europe include Stamford Hill, Salford, Gateshead, Paris and Antwerp, so these would constitute the most likely case study areas. In order to go about collecting data for my case studies, I will firstly use pre-existing information and statistics where possible. However, a large portion of my research will likely have to be gathered through field work. I would have to make direct contact with the Haredi communities in the various case studies. While I am not employing ethnography and embedding myself in the community, I would be informed by ethnographic sensibility in my attempts to gain trust in the community.