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? 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 ordinary people wanted change after years of hardship in the war and the pre war 1930’s Great Depression - Many in charge (that had previously opposed such reforms) did not want a repeat of the revolutions and social unrest that happened after WWI that led to Fascism 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. How ‘New’? Many of the Ideas expressed by the New Right are a return to older ‘liberal’ economic ideas of the 19 th Century. That is why many of the same theorists and politicians are also called “neo- liberal” (neo=new) 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 Activity- How 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? 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.

Radical Models of State Welfare 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. 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. 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. Look at the social initiatives of the Thatcher govt – “Right to Buy” council scheme “Neighbourhood Watch” Encouraging Private Healthcare Q1 What type Citizenship was the New Right trying to create? Q2 What problems are there with this view? 2 The Citizens Charter Started by John Major Gives information on all Government services. “Citizens should be empowered by Government to make choices in an environment of public service that was accountable to people” Faulks (1998) Citizenship in Modern Britain Sets out exact responsibilities and rights. Q3 How is this different to New Right policies 3 Activities 1 Do a Websearch of ‘Citizens Charter’. What different organisations show up? 2 Together, make a ‘Charter’ for an organisation you are familiar with. 4 Criticisms 1 Is the concept of ‘consumer’ useful in social welfare provision?-consider the charter you have made earlier 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”