Social Policy

Question 1

define social policy

Answer 1

• social policy = plans and actions of govt to tackle social problems
• e.g. education, poverty

Question 2

how does Worsley define a social problem

Answer 2

• social problem = any pattern of relationship that calls for explanation

Question 3

name at least 4 factors that may affect if sociological research influences policy

Answer 3

• electoral popularity
• ideological and policy preferences of governments
• interest groups
• globalisation
• critical sociology
• cost funding sources

Question 4

outline the ideological + policy preferences of govt as a factor that could affect if sociology affects policy

Answer 4

ideological + policy preferences of govt:
- if the researchers value stance is similar to the political ideology of the govt, they are more likely to influence their policy

Question 5

outline critical sociology as a factor that could affect if sociology affects policy

Answer 5

critical sociology:
- sociologists such as Marxists, who are critical of the state/ those in power, are less likely to influence policy as they may be seen as too extreme

Question 6

outline the power to define a situation

Answer 6

• sociological research is only on element in shaping social policy
• ultimately, any policy is the result of a political decision by those in power

Question 7

outline the Positivist view of social policy

Answer 7

• Positivists such as Comte and Durkheim take the view that sociology is a science and can discover the cause of social problems + their scientific solutions
• their approach was part of the enlightenment project to advocate for science to improve society
• Durkheim suggested meritocratic education + abolishment of inherited wealth to promote social cohesion

Question 8

outline the Functionalist view of social policy

Answer 8

• Funcs see society as based on a value consensus + free from conflict
• state serves the interests of society as a whole and implements policies for their benefit
• said policies help society to run more cohesively
• e.g. housing policies help families to perform their role with more ease

Question 9

outline the piecemeal approach

Answer 9

• Functionalists favour social policies/ piecemeal social engineering
• this is a cautious approach which tackles one specific issue at a time

Question 10

outline a criticism of the piecemeal approach

Answer 10

• Marxists: educational policies aimed at equalising opportunity for children of lower classes are often defeated by the influence of poverty in society

Question 11

outline the social democratic perspective

Answer 11

• the SD approach favours a major redistribution of wealth
  -Townsend: SD sociologists should be included in researching social issues + making policy recommendations to solve them
• based on his research of poverty, Townsend made recommendations for higher welfare benefits and more spending on health + education

Question 12

outline the Black report

Answer 12

• in 1980, this report on class inequalities in health + education resulted in 37 policy recommendations to reduce these deep-rooted inequalities
• e.g. free school meals, more spending on housing, etc
• Thatcher’s conservative govt refused to implement these suggestions on the grounds of cost

Question 13

outline 3 criticisms of the social democratic perspective

Answer 13

• Marxists: reject the idea that the policies in the Black report are enough to solve the deep rooted issue of class inequality. Capitalism is the ultimate issue + must be abolished
• M: as the Black report shows, the capitalist state is unlikely to implement costly public spending to benefit the working class
• Postmodernists: criticises sociologists for attempting to influence policy as all knowledge produced by research is uncertain, and so govt policies shouldn’t be based on it

Question 14

outline the Marxist view of social policy

Answer 14

• Marxists see society as divided by a fundamental conflict of the classes
• the state represents the ruling class and their social policies represent the interests of the capitalist state
• social polices do 3 things

Question 15

Marxist: name the 3 things that social policies do

Answer 15

policies…
- provide ideological legitimation
- maintains the labour force for further exploitation
- prevents revolution

Question 16

Marxist: name an example of how social policies maintain the labour force for further exploitation

Answer 16

• e.g. the NHS serves capitalism by keeping workers fit enough to work

Question 17

Marxist: name an example of how social policies provide ideological legitimation

Answer 17

• does this to mask capitalist exploitation
• e.g. the welfare state gives capitalism a ‘human face’ - making it seem that the state cares about the old, poor and sick

Question 18

Marxist: name an example of how social policies prevent revolution

Answer 18

• e.g. the policies that created the welfare state post ww2 were a way to buy off w/c oppression to capitalism

Question 19

how do Marxists view sociologists role in creating social policy

Answer 19

• the sociologists main role should be to critique capitalist social policy - not to serve the capitalist state
• sociologists must expose the exploitation in capitalism and how it is reflected in social policy

Question 20

outline a criticism of the Marxist view of social policy

Answer 20

• the M view of social policy and sociologists role in them are unrealistic + impractical
• Social Democratic say that sociological research can help to create progressive change in the system

Question 21

outline the Feminist view of social policy

Answer 21

• state policies perpetuate women’s subordination
• e.g. family polices may assume that the normal family is a conventional nuclear fam (which oppresses women), policies may produce a self fulfilling prophecy making it harder for family diversity where w aren’t oppressed

Question 23

outline the New Right view of social policy