Social Policy Master - Essay Example

Social Policy PAGE 1 APA style Since times immemorial social policies existed globally .The policies transcend with Time . Social policies vary from time to time, country to country, state to state. Different Countries have different social policies according to their needs and conveniences. Many sociologists defined it in different ways. The social policy may be defined as a policy of dealing with social issues .It can be considered in a number of perspectives. It relates to the socio cultural and political environment. In France social policy based on solidarity; i.e, shared risks, common action ,and mutual responsibility. In Sweden it is based on redistribution, and in USA it based on labor welfare regime, and in Britain it is based on public and social welfare. Social policy covers risks, injustice, and dis-harmony in social life. Our social life today is infested with so many evils and mal practices, prejudices and orthodox customs. These social evils sometimes appear as political and religious evils. Social freedom excludes any coercion Healthy social traditions lead to individual and social good. Social agencies help the society to live in peace and harmony. Social Justice means giving equal justice to all the people irrespective of caste, creed, race, financial, and social status. Peopole with old age, sickness childhood problems should get social justice. Footnotes: Social policy is defined in a general way PAGE 2 Social protection should be given to the insecure. Social risk: " Social risk refers to aspects of patient, social, psychological, and emotional status which increases the chance of illness or interfere with treatment" Significant psycho social problems always exist in society. Family violence between wife and husband, child abuse, inadequate housing, drug addiction etc, need the help of social service organizations as a part of basic care. Social risk includes economic risk. . Eg, Victoria Climbe's death in the year 2000 at London. Social justice means giving equal justice to all people living in the same state or country; irrespective of social, economic, political, racial and other factors. People with old age, sickness, child hood problems should get social justice. Social protection should be given to the insecure. The British social policy is very ancient. It started in the year1598. This policy was later given a statutory status and was followed till 1948. Priority was given to the poor people. They were given better employment opportunities. Later with time many other laws came into existence. In Britain the social policy taught in British Universities is connected with other Sciences .like sociology with social work and principles .It has a close connection with Economics , politics, and statistics. Social policy concentrates on the implementation and development of the individuals rather than theoretical .There is a difference in the study of sociology and social policy. Foot notes: Victoria Climbe who was an African was killed at her aunt's place. Her death became an issue to the social agencies. PAGE 3 Sociology deals with the study of the society and social policies is connected with the Social policies of the society and social agencies. British social policy aims to change the world. Fabianism was founded in 1884 by Sidney and Beatrice Webb for the welfare of the society. They wanted to associate social administration with Fabianism. Richard Titmus was the first professor of Social administration in the London school of Economics. According to him social policy is the study of social science which aims at the life of individual and group relations. With post war effects Fabianism became weak and Titmus's pragmatic policy was accepted. The Royal commission was formed to review the Victorian approach to support the poor .The name of the social administration was changed to social policy in a pragmatic way. Charity organization society and LSE were merged. Indian business man Mr. J.R.D.Tata gave financial support to LSE to relieve poverty and destitution. The welfare state and the post war consensus are the significant achievements of the soci- al policy The influence of Fabianism with social policy during the post war period was argued against and attacked by the right wing critics of state welfare and condemned the state interference with the working of capitalist market economy. "Thatcherism is the system of political thought attributed to the governments of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990".In this policy political economy of the past hundred years had fallen into three phases. The first phase was Gladstonianism. In this era "laissez faire' improved .It reduced the social risks. ' Second was the Keynesian concensus. In the post world war period the treasury adopted a new role in the macro economic management. It's main aim was to create stable employment, and the policy was as per the demand. In general mass employment was reduced and inflation came. Foot notes: Fabianism is created to make social administration into a policy of action. PAGE 4 In the third phase unemployment increased. In 1979 the Thatcher government helped to improve the economic development. Later in 1990 John Major came to power . Then Fabianism was overturned and the support for Butskellite census was displaced . The gender and racial dimensions of policy practice was ignored. In 1994 Tony Blair became the prime minister of Britain. He brought several reforms and strengthened the British economy. He said " new Labour should reject right wing pro market approach and left support for monopolistic services in favour of Third way for policy development , located between the state and market" (1998) Third way was the latest change in understanding the modern societies. It has a pragmat- ic approach to policy making. It has an effective way to meet the social needs. Globally in most countries welfare policies developed in different ways ,socialy economically, and politically .In USA privae market plays a major rule. Welfare societies remain a mixture of state market and voluntary provision. Some critics called it welfare mixed economy .Welfare societies in Britain are called welfare mix. Tony Bliar introduced educational reforms. " Education and knowledge is the only Route to prosperity." He condemned the conservative practices which denies Social justice.Tony Blair said, The creation of what will be known as the Trust schools was vital to British economic success and social justice. He wanted parents to have their choice of schools for their child's admission. His reforms are going to give a new dimension to education. Education gives new light to social justice. He wanted to have a strong social dimension. He was keen to restore faith in educational system. "Reform is the road to social justice, not it's denial" Tony Blair. People with disabilities have offered the world a precious opportunity to define the norms of social justice, citizenship, democracy and development. PAGE 5 Globalisation brought many changes in social policies. To meet global competition in the market the state is compelled to reduce the budget of social welfare institutions. It means neglecting the needs of poor and weaker community As Fitz Patrick said "the present social policy emphasizes in minimizing the risks, rather than maximizing social justice." This occurs with globalization. Next, social security gives financial assistance. It gives social insurance which helps people in old age and sickness. It gives universal benefits. Social security is the heart which maintains social justice. In the 20th century skilled technicians got more job opportunities than academically Qualified. .Vocational training in the form of apprentice- ship increase the job opportunities In the later period this training became more popular in FE colleges. NVQ was introduced for students who do not want to study in secondary schools. Even though equal opportunities are given to all the students, their performance depends on the social and family environment. The educational reforms in Britain are going to be a mile stone in educational field. Traditional manufacturing skills in manufacturing, information technology and financial management skills came into lime light in the later period. In conclusion Britain occupied a better position in implementing social policy in a beneficial way to all the citizens. Social citizenship is introduced. Social risk which is connected with economic risk can be handled in a better way with social justice. In a nutshell social policies maintained by welfare organizations will give peace and harmony. People will become more responsible in doing their duties than claiming their rights The End End notes Social risks: social risk comes with economic risk . Laissez Faire: the policy of Laissez Faire minimized the social risks and gave moral support Butskellite census: this is Marxist policy . Bibliography "Social risk refers to aspects of patient, social, psychological, and emotional status which increases the chance of illness or interfere with treatment" -the New York staff chapters of the national association of social workers. Thatcherism is the system of political thought attributed to the governments of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "New Labour should reject right wing pro market approach and left support for monopolistic services in favour of Third way for policy development , located between the state and market" (1998). -Tony blair " Education and knowledge is the only route to prosperity." BBC news November 18,2005 "Reform is the road to social justice, not it's denial" Tony Blair Patrick said "the present social policy emphasizes in minimizing the risks, rather than maximizing social justice." -Social justice Fitz Patrick chapter 3 Read More