1. Class 2 The Beveridge Report

2. The State/ People Relationship in GB Question linked to the text: The Beveridge Report: evolution or revolution?

3. Writing Answer the following questions  10-15 lines  Try to adopt one point of view and stick to it (even if you do not share it).  Then we’ll discuss together  I’ll pick up a few copies

4. Themes  Women  State and Economy  Role of the State  Employment  Terminology

5. Women According to the Report, women do not contribute financially to the Welfare State (most of them are housewives) and they should therefore rely on their husbands:  What do you think of this situation?  Is it fair to expect social benefit without financial contribution?  Should women be sujected to their husbands, at least in term of social benefit?  Can you think of a better solution?

6. State and Economy According to the Report, the State needs to take part in the economy by providing people with a living minimum:  What do you think of this conception of the State? Welfare State or Santa Claus State?  Do you think State intervention was essential in terms of moral and geopolitics?

7. Role of the State Line 13: ’individuals may build freely upon it’  Should social security be seen as the base of society or just as an extra help when times get rough?  Does social security mean the end of self-reliance? Is the State becoming too powerful (cf. Friedrich von Hayek) ?

8. Employment The Report states that the contribution should be universal and that unemployment benefit should be limited in time:  Why should it be so?  If full employment is a prerequisite (un prérequis), people should accept any kind of jobs, is it a solution in the long run?  Compare to the situation in France today.

9. Terminology The plan relies on several important terms which have become commonplaces (lieux communs):  The ‘Beveridge’ Report > should such an important document be centered on one particular man?  Page 11: ‘Social Security’ vs. ‘Social Insurance’ > trivial (insignifiant) or important terminological difference?

10. Terminology  The ‘Five Giants’ > Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, Idleness and Want i.e. poor health, poor education, poor living conditions, unemployment and poverty.  What do you make of this terminology?  Why was it a good choice back then?  Is it still relevant?

11. France On both sides on the French political spectrum some politicians talk about a new way of seeing the Welfare State: ‘le revenu de base’, that is a universal benefit for everyone. What do you think of that?

12. Coming Weeks  Group 2 > Anthony Eden’s speech, page 18  Group 3 > (15-19 Feb) > Group 3 The Wind of Change, page 20  News