The Class Struggle and Welfare: Social Policy under Capitalism

The Class Struggle and Welfare: Social Policy under Capitalism PDF

Author: David Matthews

Publisher: NYU Press

Published: 2025-01-01

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 1685900887

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

With The Class Struggle and Welfare, David Matthews argues that we must understand the welfare state as a dialectical phenomenon—a product of class struggle. Confronting the hypocritical rhetoric of politicians who castigate welfare beneficiaries as lazy and “workshy,” Matthews points to clear evidence that the welfare state is essential to the prosperity and health of capitalist economies. At the same time, in the Marxist tradition, Matthews moves well beyond an analysis of welfare as simply an instrument wielded by capitalism for its benefit, arguing that proof of the class struggle scars the surface of every welfare system. With chapters focusing on welfare issues, including social security, health, disability, housing, and education, Matthews examines historical and current developments in Britain as a basis for a wider understanding of the relationship between capitalism and welfare. The Class Struggle and Welfare shows that as welfare states grew exponentially throughout the advanced capitalist world over the course of a century, the intents, purposes and perceptions of the institution of welfare underwent a dialectical transformation. On the one hand, the services offered served to bolster capitalism. On the other hand, welfare systems in and of themselves were born of class struggle. In turn, even as current welfare systems reflect the values and the needs of the capitalist arena, the influence and imprint of the working class is plain to see. The Class Struggle and Welfare ultimately looks to the future, arguing that the working class must consider an alternative type of welfare system—one which looks beyond the state and truly reflects the values of equality, solidarity, and community.

Class Struggle and Social Welfare

Class Struggle and Social Welfare PDF

Author: Michael Lavalette

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-04-15

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 1135119554

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

For too long the collective struggles of the oppressed over welfare provision and welfare settlement have been ignored, yet such struggles punctuate recent British history. By presenting a series of case-studies of episodes of collective action from the field of social policy and social welfare, Class Struggle and Welfare aims to rediscover this 'hidden history'. Organised chronologically, the book covers some of the most important welfare struggles from the early nineteenth century, some of the issues covered are: *the growth of capitalism *the development of the poor laws and the anti-poor law movement *working class self-help welfare in the nineteenth century *rent strikes on the Clyde in 1920s *the squatters movement in the 1950s *the struggle for abortion rights *an analysis of the urban riots in the 1980s *the great poll tax rebellion.

Savage State

Savage State PDF

Author: Edward J. Martin

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2005-08

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 9780742524644

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is used as a point of departure for a critique of contemporary welfare policy and the capitalist state. Martin and Torres set out to renew a critical Marxist method by extending it to an analysis of contemporary social policy. It is in this approach that they set out to argue that a critique of welfare policy within the context of capitalism is more timely and important than ever before.

The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism

The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism PDF

Author: Gosta Esping-Andersen

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2013-05-29

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 0745666752

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Few discussions in modern social science have occupied as much attention as the changing nature of welfare states in western societies. Gosta Esping-Andersen, one of the most distinguished contributors to current debates on this issue, here provides a new analysis of the character and role of welfare states in the functioning of contemporary advanced western societies. Esping-Andersen distinguishes several major types of welfare state, connecting these with variations in the historical development of different western countries. Current economic processes, the author argues, such as those moving towards a post-industrial order, are not shaped by autonomous market forces but by the nature of states and state differences. Fully informed by comparative materials, this book will have great appeal to everyone working on issues of economic development and post-industrialism. Its audience will include students and academics in sociology, economics and politics.

Ideology and Social Welfare

Ideology and Social Welfare PDF

Author: Victor George

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-10-08

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 1136113002

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

A revised and rewritten version of the best-selling textbook, described by Sociological Review as 'essential reading for every student of social policy. '

The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism

The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism PDF

Author: Gosta Esping-Andersen

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 1990-01-23

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 0691028575

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Few discussions in modern social science have occupied as much attention as the changing nature of welfare states in Western societies. The author here provides a new analysis of the character and role of welfare states in the functioning of contemporary advanced Western societies. The author distinguishes three major types of welfare state, connecting these with variations in the historical development of different Western countries. He argues that current economic processes, such as those moving toward a postindustrial order, are shaped not by autonomous market forces but by the nature of states and state differences.

The Working Class in Welfare Capitalism

The Working Class in Welfare Capitalism PDF

Author: Walter Korpi

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-11-30

Total Pages: 442

ISBN-13: 100072638X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

First published in 1978, The Working Class in Welfare Capitalism looks at the position of the working class in the Swedish pattern of welfare capitalism and compares it with other capitalist industrial countries. Beginning with an analysis of class, class conflict, power and social change in classical and modern social theory, Professor Korpi discusses the development of the Swedish labour movement and its strategies of class conflict. He focuses on the situation of the worker at the workplace and in the community, on the functioning of the labour union, on industrial conflict, and on the political views and standpoints of the workers. He also examines political developments in Sweden and discusses the prospects for a development towards economic democracy. A challenging and comprehensive study of Swedish social democracy in action, carried out by a Swede within a comparative frame of reference, the book presents an analysis which is of central relevance to all capitalist societies, especially when mass communist parties in Europe appear to be moving towards reformistic socialism. This book will be of interest to students of sociology, social class, economy and history.

Lanterna Rally - Theme by Grace Themes