Proposal of publication from the Centre tricontinental (Belgium)
An edition in English of the issue of Alternatives Sud on Social protection in the South
(François Polet - polet@cetri.be)
Translation from the French of the back cover and abstracts of 8 articles
BACK COVER :
Social protection in the South: a new impetus with new challenges.
Whereas in Europe social protection systems bear the brunt of policy responses to the crisis
that erupted in 2008, in the South the opposite tendency prevails. A great number of Southern
States have instead opted for cushioning the effects of economic slowdown by accelerated –
or enlarged – implementation of their social security cover. Inspired by the landmark
experiences of Brazil and South Africa most programmes involve the transfer of modest
allowances to the poorest households that are most often excluded from the formal job
market. In regions where such policies are applied extreme poverty is definitely receding, but
on a global scale social cover is still far from widespread: today 75% of the world population
has no access to basic social protection.
Disconcerted by the anticipated failure of the Millennium Development Goals, a coalition of
international development agencies now intends to push this trend and generalise social
protection until in the poorest regions. This initiative deserves applause. Perspectives differ
however. For some the goal is effectively to institute redistributive processes within a
perspective of expanding social rights. The social turn-about of the others is more suspect:
they see in it mainly productive investment in ‘human capital’, an after all affordable measure
of ‘social risk’ management related to a liberalisation of the economy that they consider as
unavoidable.
ABSTRACTS
Expanding social protection in the South: challenges and hazards of a new impulse
by François Polet
Social protection has regained a prominent place in development policies. It has acquired new
legitimacy in particular through a new generation of non-contributive programmes for the
majorities that are excluded from formal employment. Although it enjoys the support of
actors with a variety of ideological profiles this righteous agenda entails nevertheless quite a
few potential abuses. For a start, social protection runs the danger of becoming a mere
instrument in the service of market reforms.
Second generation reforms of pension systems in Latin America.
by Flavia Marco Navarro
The social security system reforms underway in Latin America show that a better
redistribution is possible beyond the mere ‘individual capitalisation’ mode. The central
problem remains the exclusion of the informal sector. In this respect Chile and Uruguay have
introduced interesting measures, but Bolivia’s reform leaves to be desired. Governments need
to take dispositions for institutions where affiliated members could claim their entitlements.
‘Talking left, walking right’: social policies in South Africa.
by Patrick Bond
South Africa’s social policies are often presented as among the highest democratic
achievement in the post-apartheid era. However, they remain superficial in a neoliberal
context marked by growing inequality and commodification of essential services. Alternatives
should be sought along the lines of the initiatives taken by social activists to provide access to
ARV treatment and water.
Assessing social protection in Brazil in the post-dictatorial era
by Rosa Maria Marques
Brazil adopted ambitious systems of public health, pensions and welfare in accordance with
the constitution of 1988. Although progress is real in terms of human development, their reach
remains incomplete mainly due to the importance of informal employment. The universal
scope of Brazil’s social policy is further limited by the existence of a private health system
strengthened by tax support.
Cash transfers, a magic cure against poverty in India and elsewhere?
by Jayati Gosh
Replacing public provision of essential goods and services by cash transfers is a delusion.
These allowances may reduce poverty if they supplement effective public services, not when
they replace them. Their aberrant effects are manifold: erosion of purchasing power, unjust or
impracticable targeting, misappropriation… In final analysis they are more likely to reproduce
rather than make inroads in the causes of poverty.
Social protection in South-East Asia: challenges and alternatives
by Maris dela Cruz
South-East Asia is classified as a middle-income region; yet it remains one of the most
inequitable regions of the world and the inequalities are continuously rising. Developing
social protection is henceforth a matter of priority for the States of the region and international
organisations such as ASEAN. In order to be effective, the future systems must be
transformative, universal and based on rights and social justice.
Social protection: the new Trojan horse?
by Francine Mestrum
The international organisations have placed social protection on the political agenda.
Notwithstanding the different accents of the proposals on the table there exists a real risk that
this trend will only reinforce the neoliberal approach by giving priority to economic growth
and poverty reduction... To this the idea of the ‘social commons’ constitutes an alternative as
well as conceptual renewal of social protection.