弱势群体的再界定

近年来,弱势群体已逐渐成为国际通行的一个词汇,无论社会学、政治学,还是法学或经济学等学科都十分关注弱势群体问题。然而作为研究的基础,即何为弱势群体,国内外学术界却未形成较为明确的定义。根据马斯洛的人类需求层次理论,以及阿马蒂亚·森和玛莎·纳斯鲍姆提出的"可行能力"概念,弱势群体应是指那些由于内在可行能力的不足,或可行能力的发挥受到了外在可行性的制约,导致不能获得足够的社会资源,从而使自身长期处于基本需求不能得到满足状态的一群人。

A New Definition of Vulnerable Groups

In recent years, ＂vulnerable groups＂ has become a popular terminology. Sociology, political science, law or economics and other disciplines are all concerned with the issue of vulnerable groups. However, the academics have failed to give a clear definition to ＂vulnerable groups＂, which is the basis of the research. According to Maslow＇s hierarchy of needs, as well as Amaetya Sen and Martha Nussbaum＇s ＂capabilities＂ concept, vulnerable groups should be those people that have no access to social resources, therefore, unable to meet their individual basic needs for a long period of time because they lack the intemal practical ability and are restricted by the external feasibility.