Models of State Welfare
1- The Start of the Welfare State & The Beveridge Report
2- The New Right
3- Radical Models of Welfare
4 The Citizens Charter
How did it start?
- 1945 Labour Landslide – beat Winston Churchill even though he was very
popular after the war, in part because they promised to fully implement the
Beveridge Report
- Many in charge (that had
previously opposed such
- Many ordinary
reforms) did not want a
people wanted
repeat of the revolutions
change after years of
and social unrest that
hardship in the war
happened after WWI that
and the pre war
led to Fascism
1930’s Great
Depression
Activity
Using page 46 on your
textbook find out who was to
take the ‘Primary
Responsibility’ for the
Welfare State and list what
these Responsibilities are.
The New Right.
A solution for this problem came
from the ‘New Right’. It is called
‘New’ because it broke with the post
war consensus.
It thought the problem was that a
big Welfare State was to expensive
and stopped economic growth by
giving businesses to much tax.
Margaret Thatcher is the Prime
Minister associated most with this
idea. The country is very divided
over her legacy.
The ‘Post War Consensus’ (agreement) breaks
down.
For a long time after WWII there was economic success for nations
across the world. In many western nations including the UK all
political parties agreed that the Welfare state was a good idea. As the
economies went into slump in the 1970’s there was a big debate about
what to do. More unemployment meant the welfare state whilst at the
same time governments had less employed people to tax
How ‘New’?
Many of the Ideas
expressed by the New
Right are a return to older
‘liberal’ economic ideas of
the 19th Century. That is
why many of the same
theorists and politicians
are also called “neoliberal” (neo=new)
ActivityHow would economic
problems in the 1970’s
cause a problem for the
Welfare State?
Who is responsible for
welfare provision in the
ideal neo-liberal welfare
system?
Radical Models of State Welfare
The models of Welfare we have looked at so far have been
about how governments manage peoples welfare in
Capitalist economies. Many theorists that have been
influenced by Marxism and Feminism have criticised welfare
systems under capitalism.
Karl Marx is a famous
Economist and Philosopher
who many left wing theorists
and political parties use to
help understand the world.
His work left a lot of debates
in Sociology, Politics,
Economics, History and
Philosophy. There are strong
feelings about his legacy after
the failings of Communism in
Russia, but his work is still
very influential.
A common Marxist critique (criticism) of the welfare state in
capitalist countries is that it is only a sticking plaster that does
not change fundamental inequalities- we may have the right to
vote but it is meaningless because of economic inequalities.
Marxists would say society is really run by an un-elected ‘ruling
class’ in the multinationals, banks and civil service.
Radical Feminist models of welfare
provision have concentrate on Patriarchy –
capitalism is male dominated society that
oppresses women. As a consequence
welfare provision is tilted towards men's
needs not women's.
The Citizens Charter
1 The New Right and the Private Citizen.
2 The Citizens Charter
Look at the social initiatives of the Thatcher govt –
Started by John Major
“Right to Buy” council scheme
Gives information on all Government services.
“Neighbourhood Watch”
“Citizens should be empowered by Government to
make choices in an environment of public service
that was accountable to people”
Encouraging Private Healthcare
Q1 What type Citizenship was the New Right
trying to create?
Q2 What problems are there with this view?
Faulks (1998) Citizenship in Modern Britain
Sets out exact responsibilities and rights.
Q3 How is this different to New Right policies
3 Activities
4 Criticisms
1 Do a Websearch of ‘Citizens
Charter’. What different
organisations show up?
1 Is the concept of ‘consumer’ useful in social
welfare provision?-consider the charter you
have made earlier
2 Together, make a ‘Charter’ for an
organisation you are familiar with.
2 Is the market the best way to provide these
services?
3 Is this a Political or even a philosophical
issue
“One for all and all for one” or “Best man wins”