Individualism vs Collectivism 21/03/19 Individualism vs Collectivism to understand the differences between individualism and collectivism in relation to the welfare state Learning Success Explain key arguments for a collectivist style welfare state Explain key arguments for an individualist style welfare state Today Take detailed notes on individualism and collectivism Develop a detailed plan for an essay on individualism vs collectivism .

Key Arguments Key Collectivist Arguments Key Individualistic Arguments Governments are best suited to reducing social inequalities Social inequality has deepened when governments have put in place individualistic policies A collectivist approach is supported by the public and the political sector. Key Individualistic Arguments Collectivist approaches have led to the growth in dependency culture. The growing costs of the welfare state are unsustainable. Big government is less suited to meeting the needs of local communities than the people who live in them.

Governments are best suited to reducing social inequalities. It can be argued that there is no one cause of social inequality in the UK and as these causes are often complex and interrelated, it is too much for any one charity or private organisation to really address them on its own. It is only the government that has the resources needed as well as the expertise required to address these complex factors. This is illustrated by the fact that the UK and devolved governments spend almost £200 billion on healthcare only in the UK. Poor health is caused by a range of factors from genetics, to environment to culture and even life style choice. It is not enough to just treat poor health but to also try and prevent the causes in the first place. Collectivists argue that only a large, coordinated effort like the NHS is suited to addressing these many factors. Free at the point of use and largely a universal provision, the NHS is a key example of collectivist policies as it provides a service that no one private company or charity could.

Social inequality has deepened when governments put in place individualistic policies. Individualism assumes that all the disadvantages that someone has are their own fault. If someone does not have the means to support themselves i.e. avoid poverty, then that may because they did not work hard enough to get the skills needed for suitable employment. Governments that follow this ideology believe in personal responsibility and so are likely to make benefits less generous, remove them all together or limit those who can access them. Such action has the potential to increase social inequality. This is demonstrated by the fact that since government reforms to reduce and limit welfare spending by the conservative led Governments (2010 – present), the Trussell Trust reports that it gave out 1.3 million 3 day food packages to people in need in 2017/18 compared to just 300,000 in 2012/13. The Trussell Trust says that 40% of the people seeking support from the food bank do so due to benefit changes or delays. They have also highlighted that usage of its food banks has increased by 50% in areas where the governments flagship welfare reform “Universal Credit” has been rolled out. Such evidence suggests that rather than curing societies problems, individualistic policies are increasing them.

A collectivist approach is supported by the public and the political sector. A key example of the popularity of collectivist’s approaches is the continued success of the SNP in Scotland. It has won 3 elections in the Scottish Parliament with policies such as free university tuition, free prescriptions and free personal care for the elderly. It has even increased its representation at the UK parliament with these policies as at one point over 90% of Scottish MPs were SNP members. The continued success of the SNP and that replacement of the NHS is considered off limits by all major political parties demonstrates that a collectivist approach is supported by the public and this is respected by the political class. Essentially, the main political parties in the UK almost all subscribe to collectivist policies in one way or another. In Scotland the main parties of the SNP, the Greens, Labour and the Liberal Democrats are all seen as very collectivist and even to a small extent, the Scottish Conservatives are seen to be more collectivist in nature than their UK “big sister” party . In order to implement their key policies political parties need to attract votes to win an election. The Conservative party in Scotland and the UK has made a great effort to demonstrate that it is a protector of the NHS recognising how important it is to people in the UK.

Question Task Explain why governments are best suited to reducing social inequalities? Use evidence to justify your answer Explain why it could be argued that social inequality would worsen with individualistic policies? Use evidence to justify your answer. Explain why it would be accurate to argue that collectivist policies are popular in the Scotland and the UK. Use evidence to justify your answer.

Collectivist approaches have led to the growth in dependency culture. Individualists would argue that a generous welfare state that aims to provide for people “from the cradle to the grave” has created generation after generation of citizens who now expect the state to provide and are more likely to avoid responsibility for their own care. This includes people who arguably are in a position to provide for themselves. If the state is paying for the tuition at university or medicine of all citizens – then why would even those on the highest incomes not take advantage of that? This is illustrated best by the provision of free personal care in Scotland: This collectivist principle sees the Scottish government paying just over £500 million for services that many wealthy pensioners (with a poverty rate lower than children in Scotland) could themselves pay for. Many of these pensioners grew up at the founding of the welfare state 70 years ago, and clearly the ideal of universalism - cherished by collectivists - has become ingrained in the culture of UK citizens as those who could afford their own care still expect it to be provided as promised by the state. https://www.scotsman.com/news/health/free-personal-care-funding-in-scotland-soars-to-500-million-1-4776454

The growing costs of the welfare state are unsustainable For instance, in 2018 it was revealed by the BBC that the cost of providing free prescriptions in Scotland has risen 25% in 10 years to now cost the country £1.3 billion pounds per year. At the same time the Scottish government has raised taxes on the highest earners in Scotland to help fund their collectivist policies. Individualists point to the evidence of the last decade: the ever increasing amounts spent on welfare requiring ever increasing taxes to pay for it and argue that this cannot continue as there must be a limit to what people pay in tax otherwise what incentive would they have to work in the UK. If the policies of collectivists were to be fully realised, as free and universal for all, then taxes levied on citizens and business would need to grow each year. As people live longer and a population grows then so to does the number of people who will need the services provided by a welfare state. This can make it unsustainable: the more money spent on welfare, the more that needs to be paid in tax which will have to come from the higher earners in society who arguably will have worked hard for their wealth.

Big government is less suited to meeting the needs of local communities than the people who live in them. Each government department must have the ability to manage the whole country and so are very large with many layers of management and bureaucracy. They are also likely to be led by people in London and/or Edinburgh - far from the people they seek to help. As they provide a service for all citizens that service will largely be a standardised provision so that the people of the UK get the same service regardless of if they live in Kilmarnock, Cardiff or Portsmouth. This means that big government is not suited to meet the needs of a local area and individualists would argue that the people of that area are much better suited to provide appropriate help and support due to closeness and a clear understanding of local issues. For example, the creation of food banks organised by churches and local charity groups demonstrates where the people of that community have recognised a need and sought to meet that. Many individualists would point to this as the “Big Society” in action and that the people are taking more responsibility for their communities. This shows that when the government steps back that individuals are there to step in suggesting that the large collectivist approaches of big government are not needed in a country as diverse as the UK/Scotland.

Question Task Explain why collectivist policies can lead to a dependency culture? Use evidence to justify your answer. Explain why the growing cost of welfare is unsustainable? Use evidence to justify your answer. Explain why individuals and local community groups are better at addressing social problems than big government. Use evidence to justify your answer.