Worlds of Welfare: Understanding the Changing Geographies for Social Welfare Provision

by Pinch; Steven

• ISBN13: 9780415111881
• ISBN10: 0415111889
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-01-03
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Throughout the world, welfare systems have been experiencing a period of unprecedented change. Understanding these changes is difficult, not only because of their diversity, but also because they vary so much from place to place.Worlds of Welfareprovides a clear and concise guide to these changes. The first part of the book examines the range of different welfare states around the world, describing the various reforms--such as privatization and commercialization--which have been introduced in recent years. The second part of the book tests the many theoretical perspectives for undertaking such social change. The book concludes with an exploration of the future of the welfare state in multicultural societies. Clearly written, with an extensive glossary of key terms, the book demonstrates how a geographical perspective is crucial to understanding the diversity of welfare reform.Worlds of Welfarewill be of interest to all concerned for the future of welfare services.

Table of Contents

List of figures	vii	(2)
List of tables	ix	(2)
Preface	xi	(2)
Acknowledgements	xiii
Part I: Charting the dimensions of change in welfare states	3	(64)
1 Introduction	3	(25)
What is meant by welfare?	5	(1)
How can welfare needs be met?	6	(5)
Geographical variations in welfare states: the international scale	11	(8)
Geographical variations in welfare within states	19	(2)
Pressures for change in the welfare state	21	(5)
Conclusion	26	(2)
2 Changing the welfare state: `chipping away at the edges'	28	(17)
Rationalisation	28	(3)
Privatisation 1: asset sales and residualisation	31	(3)
Privatisation 2: increasing reliance on the private sector	34	(4)
Self-provisioning	38	(1)
Voluntarism	38	(3)
Deinstitutionalisation	41	(2)
Deregulation	43	(1)
Conclusion	44	(1)
3 `Hollowing out' the centre: changes within public services	45	(22)
Investment and technical change	45	(1)
Intensification	46	(1)
Flexibilisation	46	(4)
Contracting-out	50	(6)
Internal markets	56	(3)
Commercialisation and corporatisation	59	(1)
Devolution	60	(2)
Decentralisation	62	(1)
Conclusion	63	(4)
Part II: Evaluating contemporary social theories	67	(71)
4 Regulation theory	67	(28)
The attractions of regulation theory	67	(2)
The key elements of regulation theory	69	(2)
Fordism	71	(2)
The demise of Fordism	73	(2)
Neo-(or Post-?)-Fordism	75	(3)
Regulation theory and the welfare state	78	(4)
The geography of the neo-Fordist welfare state	82	(1)
Criticisms of regulation theory	83	(10)
Conclusion	93	(2)
5 Structuration theory	95	(17)
The basics of structuration theory	95	(3)
The structuration debate	98	(2)
Structuration theory and the changing welfare state	100	(10)
Conclusion	110	(2)
6 The cultural turn	112	(17)
What is the cultural turn?	112	(4)
Cultural studies and geography	116	(4)
Cultural studies and the welfare state	120	(2)
Feminist critiques of welfare states	122	(1)
Racism and the welfare states	123	(1)
Disability and welfare	124	(1)
Sexuality and welfare	125	(1)
Conclusion	126	(3)
7 Conclusions	129	(9)
The post-modern dilemma	129	(1)
Social needs and universal notions of justice	130	(3)
Towards the `mean and lean' welfare state?	133	(5)
Glossary	138	(13)
Bibliography	151	(11)
Index	162