SOCIOLOGY and SOCIAL POLICY

Question 1

INFLUENCE of SOCIOLOGY and SOCIAL POLICY

Answer 1

ELECTORAL POPULARITY:
SMALL-SCALE ideas may NOT bring WINNING POLICIES, so GOVERNMENTS put forward POPULIST POLICIES to win votes

GLOBALISATION:
POLICIES aren’t just made by NATION STATES in ISOLATION. INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS: EU and IMF influence SOCIAL POLICIES of INDIVIDUAL GOVERNMENTS.

CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY:
MARXISTS are CRITICAL of the STATE and therefore UNLIKELY to INFLUENCE POLICY.

Question 2

FUNCTIONALISM

Answer 2

Functionalists believe that the state acts in the best interests of society and see social policy as being good for all. Social policies help to help society to run more SMOOTHLY and efficiently. They promote EQUAL OPPORTUNITY and SOCIAL COHESION. Functionalists often favour social policies which are referred to as PIECEMEAL SOCIAL ENGINEERING, meaning they favour a CAUTIOUS approach TACKLING ONE ISSUE at a time. Sociologists should investigate social problems SCIENTIFICALLY and provide explanations as well as SOLUTIONS to SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Question 3

MARXISM

Answer 3

Marxists believe that the state represents
the interests of the ruling class and therefore social policies will reflect the
interests of the ruling class as well.
SOCIAL POLICIES:
* Provide IDEOLOGICAL LEGITIMISATION THAT MASKS EXPLOITATION
eg the welfare state provides
capitalism with a human face, making it look like the state cares
for the sick and poor.
* MAINTAINS THE LABOUR FORCE for example the NHS keeps workers fit for labour.
* PREVENTING REVOLUTION by placating the working class and
making it seem as if the state is looking after the working class. Policies such as the MAXIMUM WORKING HOURS
Sociologists should therefor reveal the unpleasant truth about capitalist policies rather than solve the problems. This will all class consciousness to occur and revolution to start.

Question 4

FEMINISM

Answer 4

Feminists in general see the state perpetuating women’s subordination through their social policies. This is because the state bases its policies on the nuclear family so offers benefits to married couples and not cohabiting ones, thus creating a self-fulfilling policy by encouraging the nuclear family and making it difficult for other kinds of family.
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However, liberal feminists see their research as having an impact in education, they have seen changes in the images of females in teaching material – it is now more positive. Also, teacher training now ensures they are sensitive to gender bias & encourages them to be inclusive.
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The creation of women’s refuges for women escaping domestic violence.
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The feminist movement has also had an impact on policy on equality (e.g. Sex Discrimination Act & the Equal Pay Act)

Question 5

NEW RIGHT

Answer 5

The New Right believe that people should
be self reliant. Therefore they believe that
the state should not interfere too much in
the private lives of the citizen. They are
particularly against the welfare state which
they see as undermining peoples sense of
responsibility. They believe that social
policy should aim to restore peoples sense
of responsibility.