Sociology And Social Policy

Question 1

Influence of sociology on social policy

Answer 1

Electoral popularity, how far researchers value stance matches government, cost of implementing proposals, critical sociology may be regarded as extreme.

Question 2

Functionalist view

Answer 2

Policies help social solidarity and serves interests of society
Information for state to base its policies
Cause bit by bit change

Question 3

Postmodernist

Answer 3

Impossible to discover objective truth
No satisfactory basis for policy making
Interpreters not legislators

Question 4

Marxism

Answer 4

Policies serve the needs of capitalism.
Ideological legitimation for capitalism, maintain labour force for further exploitation, prevent revolution through creation of welfare state

Question 5

Feminism

Answer 5

Society - patriarchal
Perpetuating womens subordination
Reject the view policies can liberate women and demand more radical changes that existing state cannot deliver

Question 6

New right

Answer 6

Stat should have limited role.
Welfare policies undermine responsibility, perverse incentives encouraging dependency culture
Support strong law and order policies, broken window- influential.