Using Human Dignity as a guiding principle to devise and evaluate Social Policies: the case of the 2023 RSA Reform in France.

Abstract

In 2021, 9.1 million people were living below the poverty line in France defined as less than 1 158 euro per month. This affects over 14.5% of the French population and has far-reaching implications for their living conditions. After working extensively with people living in poverty, a clear recurring concern is the violation of their Human Dignity. This thesis, driven by their testimonies, examines how recognising human dignity might impact the creation and evaluation of social policies.

This research is first, a historical analysis of Human Dignity, from its Latin origin in the term “dignitas”, the Christian concept of ‘Imago Dei’, through the Enlightenment tradition and its legalisation in national, international and European law. This historical analysis is then applied to contemporary social issues, with a focus on the case of the 2023 French RSA Reform. This study establishes a clear framework of evaluation, bringing together the philosophical, legal, and social dimensions of Human Dignity.

The findings show that the current political trends of conditioning financial aid violate Human Dignity in various dimensions. Therefore, the specific case of the RSA Reform, which conditions survival financial aid to 15 hours of unpaid work, violates Human Dignity as well. This thesis contends that incorporating human dignity as a criterion in policymaking is not only important but also crucial in the protection of the fundamental rights of people living in poverty.