Social Policy Flashcards
define social policy
- social policy = plans and actions of govt to tackle social problems
- e.g. education, poverty
how does Worsley define a social problem
- social problem = any pattern of relationship that calls for explanation
name at least 4 factors that may affect if sociological research influences policy
- electoral popularity
- ideological and policy preferences of governments
- interest groups
- globalisation
- critical sociology
- cost funding sources
outline the ideological + policy preferences of govt as a factor that could affect if sociology affects policy
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
outline critical sociology as a factor that could affect if sociology affects policy
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
outline the power to define a situation
- sociological research is only on element in shaping social policy
- ultimately, any policy is the result of a political decision by those in power
outline the Positivist view of social policy
- 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
outline the Functionalist view of social policy
- 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
outline the piecemeal approach
- Functionalists favour social policies/ piecemeal social engineering
- this is a cautious approach which tackles one specific issue at a time
outline a criticism of the piecemeal approach
- Marxists: educational policies aimed at equalising opportunity for children of lower classes are often defeated by the influence of poverty in society
outline the social democratic perspective
- 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
outline the Black report
- 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
outline 3 criticisms of the social democratic perspective
- 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
outline the Marxist view of social policy
- 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
Marxist: name the 3 things that social policies do
policies…
- provide ideological legitimation
- maintains the labour force for further exploitation
- prevents revolution
Marxist: name an example of how social policies maintain the labour force for further exploitation
- e.g. the NHS serves capitalism by keeping workers fit enough to work
Marxist: name an example of how social policies provide ideological legitimation
- 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
Marxist: name an example of how social policies prevent revolution
- e.g. the policies that created the welfare state post ww2 were a way to buy off w/c oppression to capitalism
how do Marxists view sociologists role in creating social policy
- 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
outline a criticism of the Marxist view of social policy
- 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
outline the Feminist view of social policy
- 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
what do Liberal Fs think of social policies
- Feminist research has impacted a number of policies
- e.g. in education, it has influenced policies on learning materials in promoting a more positive view of w
- this reflects the Lib F view that anti-discrimination reforms will ultimately bring about gender equality
how have Rad Fs influences policy
- the idea of separatism (women need to live separately form men to be free from patriarchy)
- this is reflected in refuges for women escaping domestic violence
how do other feminists criticise the idea of social policies for women
- Marxist + Rad Fs reject the view that reformist social polices can liberate women
outline the New Right view of social policy
- the state should have only minimal involvement in society; stat intervention in areas like the family, income support, education + healthcare robs peoples freedom to make choices which leads to other social issues like crime
- in particular, they oppose state welfare
outline Murrays (New Right) view of welfare benefits
- generous welfare benefits act as ‘perverse incentives’ that weaken the family’s self-reliance
- benefits encourage the growth of a dependency culture + underclass of lone mothers, undisciplined children + irresponsible fathers
- M favours a reduction in state spending on welfare
what do New Right think about the role of sociologists in relation to policies
- sociologists can propose alternative policies which aim to restore individual responsibility
- e.g. Breakdown Britain (a Conservative report) proposes policies such as marriage preparation + parenting classes
- the report thinks the state has stripped people of their self responsibility. social policy should enable people to help themselves
outline the influence of New Right thinking
- the NR ideology is largely influenced from the Conservatives, however some Labour policies have shown the influence of the NR
