Welfare State

Question 1

How does Fordism relate to the welfare state

Answer 1

Fordism was developing hand in hand with production and making a Fordist way of life. It allowed people to save and buy more and more goods which also allowed Govs to think about the injustices which had been made by the poor law.

Question 2

How can welfare needs be met? (Pinch, 1997)

Answer 2

Families
Voluntary and charitable bodies
Private forms of care
The state

(Both informal and formal sectors of welfare).

Question 3

What is the welfare state?

Answer 3

It is those parts of the state apparatus involved in the provision of public services and benefits ( and how it shapes voluntary, private and informal care provision)
It is generally assumed that the welfare state involves redistribution of income and wealth in favour of the poorer groups within society.
Welfare refers to all government contributions to its citizens wellbeing

Question 4

What has happened to welfare over time?

Answer 4

It has become more narrowly defined and stigmatised as public assistance (‘benefits’), especially to the unemployed, single mothers with children and more recently to disabled people.

Question 5

Name 5 things which the fordist welfare state included

Answer 5

Redistributive-redistributed some of the wealth from the richest 20% to the poorest 80%. Providing an ample safety net

Universal- stratification of society–> there was less emphasis of this. Family allowance act, there was a payment for every family in society. The pension for women too.

Centralised- It was central government in Westminster. The NHS is a centralised system. It does not matter where you live.

National- Did not matter where you live nor the local authority.

Generous- at least for those groups deemed ‘deserving’.

Question 6

What happened when the National Assistance Act 1948 was brought in?

Answer 6

It ended/ terminated the poor law

Question 7

Emergence of the Post-Fordist welfare state

Answer 7

Welfare was an area of controversy- a new economic ideology emerged which challenged its principles.
The guiding principles of the welfare state were increasingly challenged by the economic ideology of neoliberalism..
Which emerged in the 1980s under Thatcher UK.

The key idea is the desirability of the market as the central plank for the organisation of social, economic and political life.

Question 8

Timeline of welfare in Britain

Answer 8

• Conservative Government 1979 to 1997
  Intention to ‘roll back’ the state.
  Cuts to control public spending, looked at ways of privatisation and targeting and targeted initiatives.
• Continued with New Labours ‘New Deal’ 2009. A workfare programme reduced numbers on Job Seekers Allowance by making people undertake mandatory training, subsidised employment and voluntary work. Leaner and meaner welfare provision.
  Refusal to participate lead to ‘sanctions’ of cut benefits. Micro-management of those reliant on job-seekers allowance.

Question 9

Name 5 characteristics of a post-Fordist welfare state

Answer 9

• Dismantled
• Decentralised
• Devolved
• Targeted
• Privatised