Kategoria BISAC: Political Science >> Public Policy - Social Policy

What does the East Asian welfare model actually offer, and does it really exist? In this study of the subject, the authors explore the experiences of six societies in East Asia and examine the realities behind the political rhetoric. The role of the state within welfare systems is compared via case studies of pensions, health insurance, housing and personal social services.

For many politicians and observers in the West, East Asia has provided a broad range of positive images of the state's intervention in society. Neoliberals grew excited by popular welfare systems that cost little in expenditure and bureaucracy. Social-democrats thought they had found a model for social cohesion and equality. In fact the reality in East Asia is rather different from these stereotypes.
In this book six specialists of six different societies in East Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong) examine the role of the state in their welfare systems. There...

Focusing upon energy conservation and the built environment, this book engages with areas of debate and policy currently dominated by technologists and natural scientists. It develops a sociological analysis of the science and technology of sustainability and energy efficiency.

Poststructuralism, Citizenship and Social Policy shows how poststructuralist ideas can be usefully applied in the areas of welfare, health, education and science and technology policy, making particular reference to the theme of citizenship.
The impact of poststructuralism on thinking in the social sciences and humanities over the last decade has been profound. However, to date, there has been little systematic analysis of the implications of poststructuralism for the critical analysis of social policy.
Poststructuralism, Citizenship and Social Policy will provide...

In a forward looking appraisal of the welfare state, this text examines such issues as: the current dynamics of poverty in Britain, drawing on similar developments in Europe and the US; and the major areas of social policy within which the abandonment and demonization of the poor is taking place; the historical antecendents to this relationship between the state and the poor; the creation and expansion of a welfare state that characterized the era of social democracy until the mid-1970s and from the point of view of the poor, was limited and conditional; the ideology and organization of the...

In a forward looking appraisal of the welfare state, this text examines such issues as: the current dynamics of poverty in Britain, drawing on similar developments in Europe and the US; and the major areas of social policy within which the abandonment and demonization of the poor is taking place; the historical antecendents to this relationship between the state and the poor; the creation and expansion of a welfare state that characterized the era of social democracy until the mid-1970s and from the point of view of the poor, was limited and conditional; the ideology and organization of the...

This text develops key topics in social work and social policy relating to exclusion, social divisions and control in welfare. It provides theoretical tools for students, academics and professionals whose work involves them in supporting the political agency of excluded groups. At a time when there have been profound shifts in the organization of welfare and the underpinning theories of the associated professions, the book tackles issues such as: the move away from publicly funded welfare; the loss of a public service ethic; reduction of input from professionals in policy; loss of...

For too long the collective struggles of the oppressed over welfare provision and welfare settlement have been ignored, yet such struggles punctuate recent British history. By presenting a series of case-studies of episodes of collective action from the field of social policy and social welfare, Class Struggle and Welfare aims to rediscover this 'hidden history'.
Organised chronologically, the book covers some of the most important welfare struggles from the early nineteenth century, some of the issues covered are:
*the growth of capitalism
*the development of the poor...

Social Policy, the Media and Misrepresentation examines aspects of news media reporting of social policy and how such coverage can influence processes of policy-making and implementation. It offers an appraisal of the complex inter-relationships between news media, news sources, the content of media coverage of social policy and its impact on audiences, public opinion and policy makers. Through detailed case studies, the various contributors explore:
*social work and child protection
*housing and homelessness
*the charity and voluntary sectors
*poverty and welfare...

The often-misleading ways in which radio, newspapers and television report poverty, homelessness, education, health and disability are of crucial and growing concern to those studying social policy and media studies. Such concerns are heightened in the political context of a government that is clearly committed to promoting its policies via media-based advertising and news management. This text is a collection of chapters by distinguished academics, journalists and broadcasters, which examines various aspects of news media reporting of social policy and the influences of such coverage on the...

By focusing on developments in the Nordic welfare states during the past decade, this text presents new insights into the evolution of welfare state measures and generally assesses the peoples health in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. This comparative work includes chapters on: the changed preconditions of welfare policies; changes in welfare measures; an investigation into developments in the welfare of the people; and a look at developments in public support for the welfare states.

This book provides an accessible engaging account of childcare policies in Britain and beyond. In examining the progress of women's initiatives and childcare, Marchbank considers subjects including: the history of childcare policy, particularly during the Second World War
childcare policy and women's economic activity across the EC
detailed case studies of policy making in practice
the covert and overt barriers to equality-based policy making
successful strategies and counter-strategies for policy makers and campaigners.

Contemporary welfare provision poses serious challenges for social policy. Large and rapid changes are said to be taking place in the way we live, work and relate to each other, characterised by anxiety and insecurity.Risk and Citizenship explores how new and diffrent forms of citizenship are evolving in the context of this 'risk society' and the implications for the development of social policy at both the macro and micro level.
This spirited and informed collection of papers by leading analysts addresses key questions related to welfare, citizenship and risk including: the...

Contemporary welfare provision poses serious challenges for social policy. Large and rapid changes are said to be taking place in the way we live, work and relate to each other, characterised by anxiety and insecurity.Risk and Citizenship explores how new and diffrent forms of citizenship are evolving in the context of this 'risk society' and the implications for the development of social policy at both the macro and micro level.
This spirited and informed collection of papers by leading analysts addresses key questions related to welfare, citizenship and risk including: the...

This topical book transforms the analysis of housing problems into a lively, interesting and contentious subject of social scientific study, addressing themes of residential experience, inclusion/empowerment, sustainability and professionalism/managerialism, which lie at the heart of the housing and social policy debate. Each chapter considers a specific social category - such as class, gender, or disability - and evaluates the experience and understanding of housing and social policy under this category.

With innovative approaches to conceptualising housing and a clear, defined...

This topical book links housing issues in other areas of social policy drawing on current themes in the social sciences. It transforms the analysis of housing problems into a lively, interesting and contentious subject of social scientific study. Housing is fundamentally integrated into the welfare system and therefore requires exploration using conceptual ideas drawn from the social sciences. This book aims to encourage those studying and working in both social policy and housing to think refelxively about housing as a central instrument of social policy, rather than considering it to be an...

This new study delivers a detailed analysis of the efforts being made to reduce poverty and social exclusion in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece. After an initial discussion of the 'southern model' of the welfare state, the situation of each country is clearly illustrated. This book also discusses how the experience of southern Europe might bear upon the situation of the East European accession countries. This is excellent reading for those interested in social change across Europe and beyond.

The capabilities approach to equality, developed by Amartyr Sen and Martha Nussbaum, seeks to answer the question: what is a proper measure of a person's condition for the purposes of determining what we owe each other, as a matter of justice?

While the capabilities theory has avoided many of the conceptual difficulties that have undermined competing accounts of egalitarian justice, recent criticisms have raised questions regarding the focus, structure and justification of the theory. In this volume, leading scholars present new and original essays that address these controversies....

Throughout the world the number of working mothers with young children has continued to grow. This has important consequences for social policy decisions, particularly in the fields of parental leave, childcare and pre-school services provision. Some countries are far more successful at combining high quality early childhood services with high percentages of mothers in employment, whereas others continue to struggle.

This edited volume examines the ways in which different countries across the world are tackling early childhood services and how these services affect young children's...

Throughout the world the number of working mothers with young children has continued to grow. This has important consequences for social policy decisions, particularly in the fields of parental leave, childcare and pre-school services provision. Some countries are far more successful at combining high quality early childhood services with high percentages of mothers in employment, whereas others continue to struggle.

This edited volume examines the ways in which different countries across the world are tackling early childhood services and how these services affect young children's...