La Placa, Vincent and Hackett, Lotta (2025) Chapter 2. Theories of social policy and welfare states. In: Morgan, Julia ORCID: 0000-0001-6218-7593 and La Placa, Vincent, (eds.) Contemporary Issues in Health and Social Care Policy and Practice: A Comparative Introduction. Routledge - Taylor and Francis Group, London, UK. ISBN 978-1032381237; 978-1003343608 (In Press)

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Abstract

This chapter will explore models and theories of the development of social policies and welfare states across OECD countries. It draws attention to the different typologies of welfare regimes across the OECD and proceeds to discuss four core theories of welfare states and the strengths and weaknesses of the theories. The four theories are: ‘Structuralism’; ‘Marxism’; ‘Pluralism’ and ‘Postmodernism’. The first two theories are broadly structuralist and the latter two focus more on plurality, multiplicity, and discourse, in their approach to social policy and welfare states. The chapter ends with a focus upon the concept of ‘Globalisation’, its impact upon current social and welfare policies, particularly around convergence of welfare states, and its implications for theories of and research on social policies across OECD countries.

Item Type:	Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords:	welfare state; healthcare; social care; theories; policies
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2024 10:34
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/48095

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