Week 12: Normative Base of Welfare: Part 1 Flashcards
what frames debates on welfare?
- normative ideas (norms)
- morality/ethics
where does the idea of government provided ‘welfare’ come from?
- historical role of faith-based charity and general benevolence “
- 19th century: age of charity
- voluntary activity to meet ‘gaps’ or failing
- western countries: early welfare was christian in its origins
What are the origins of the debates on welfare
charity and philanthropy
define charity
“almsgiving; the private or public relief of unfortunate or needy persons; benevolence”
define philanthropy
desire to promote welfare of others, especially through donation of money to good causes
- usually refers to wealthy individuals/businesses’ voluntary
how do charity and philanthropy overlap?
- charity relieve immediate
- philanthropy is long term
- address underlying cause - not always clearcut
are women or men more likely to volunteer in australia?
women (45%) men (36%)
in australia, where are the higher rates of volunteering
outside capital cities
where does australia rank on the list of giving countries in 2016
third
where do donations in australia typically come from
national level: south-eastern states and territories (at least based on donations that are tax deductible)
how is christian charity linked with the development of social work
urban based poverty during industrial revolution
what are affluent individuals in islam obliged to pay/ why?
- pay zakat (charity)
- ushar (form of religious tax)
- one of the five pillars of islam
- redistribution of wealth to muslims
- purifying one’s wealth and soul
what is sadqah?
voluntary charity aimed at helping deprived/underprivileged
in australia, who provided early welfare
churches
what are the contemporary roles of churches in Australian welfare
- employment services, aged care, hospitals, education, emergency relief
- chaplains in schools
what are arguments FOR private charity
- charity supplements the state and sometimes takes the lead to address gaps
what are arguments against state provision?
- state is impersonal
- state is wasteful as use of private donations more scrutinised
- state crows out spontaneity of private charity
what should the role of the state be in private charity?
- regulate economic conditions so that every person livelihood by labour
- have charge of extreme forms of distress (virulent disease/natural disasters)
- co-operate with voluntary charitable agencies (principle of subsidiarity)
arguments against private charity?
- insufficient to address real need
- inconsistent with notion of equal rights through citizenship
- fails to recognise state and public welfare/wellbeing given to rest of society and the wealthy
- corporations and wealthy should pay appropriate taxes
19th/20th century, what led to variations of welfare states in europe, australasia and northern america?
gradual domination of liberalism over conservatism and radicalism
what is liberalism
- belief that politics aims to preserve individual rights and maximise freedom of choice
- retains faith in possibilities of improvement in present social conditions
liberalism was developed in a time when?
new social realities were being discovered; the economy, society
what domains does liberalism believe should not be interfered with by government
- economy and market
- civic society; community
- family
- church/ religion
- guilds and trade unions
how does liberalism feel about welfare
- best that state leaves people to themselves
- individual liberty and freedom
- self responsibility and sufficiency
- choice/ free markets
- intervene only when there is failure
- allow freedom of movement and prices (abolish settlement act)
