From Initiative to Policy: The Institutionalization of Individual Agency

Abstract

In recent years, the concept of individual agency has occupied a central place in the social sciences and is increasingly being discussed in the context of public policy practices. In conditions of weakening social structures and accelerating technological and economic change, the importance of a person’s ability to act independently increases. This includes not only the proactive formation of their own development trajectory, but also participation in the improvement of the institutional environment. Agency becomes a characteristic not only of personality, but also of institutional interest on the part of the state, businesses, and civil society. This article aims to analyze how the 'request for human agency' is formed and maintained, and the institutional forms that respond to this request. Based on an analysis of international academic and expert sources, as well as policy documents from international organizations, three key areas of agency institutionalization have been identified: education, economics, and social cohesion. In education, agency is considered both a key educational outcome and a tool for preparing individuals for life in conditions of uncertainty. Self-education, individual educational trajectories and informal learning are receiving increasing attention, and digital platforms are becoming a means of expanding students’ autonomy. In economic activity, agency acts as a resource for innovation and flexibility; however, it also carries risks such as the individualization of responsibility and job instability, particularly in platform employment. In the context of social cohesion, agency is evident in collective forms of action, ranging from social enterprises and local initiatives to international and national projects that promote intercultural dialogue and cultivate trust between different groups in an era of increasing diversity. The results show that the development of agency is becoming an integral component of contemporary social policy. While supporting individual independence and responsibility, the measures under consideration also shift risks onto the individual. However, this is only an apparent contradiction: in conditions of neo-structuration, individual creative action becomes the foundation of both personal and collective well-being.