What Is the Function of the Welfare State - 2096 Words

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE WELFARE STATE? The question set is so broad that I shall have to be selective. I shall conduct my answer in relation to the British Welfare State. Before we can successfully understand the function of the Welfare State we must first be clear of its definition. Although I recognise that Britain has a long history of providing forms of welfare to its citizens though relief like the poor-law between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries, I intend to look at the post-war history of the Welfare State. I shall then move on to looking at the main provisions that the British Welfare State makes and how it works in a constantly changing society. I shall focus on the intimate relationship between the Welfare State and†¦show more content†¦The second line of thought is that the State also has the duty to not only help the worse off but also help those who are better off. The State should help the better off to ‘safeguard and improve their position in economic and societal terms. This supports Sta te intervention in various formally private services, for example, State pensions and government grants for students wanting to undertake higher education. It aims to make benefits more or less proportionate to individual earnings. The third line of thought that Sleeman identifies ‘has in many ways conflicted with both of the first two. It involves using the social services to reduce inequality of income and opportunity. It implies providing social security to those who cannot earn, which is not merely a minimum income (as the first view implies) but rather an adequate amount so that they can have an average standard of living. It also conflicts with the second view in that it implies relatively high, but flat rate, standard rates of benefit. This is still considered by the majority as the most desirable view; however it is also very costly. (Sleeman, 1979). Many argue that the central function of the Welfare State is a commitment to full employment. Indeed Marsh argues that it is certainly a defining characteristic of a Welfare State. Since the well-beingShow MoreRelatedEvolution and Growth of Administrative Law1760 Words   |  7 Pagesreferred to as the sociology of law , as it is with the changes in the society and the functions of the administration, that the scope of the term has widened and evolved. The following project intends to define the various definitions of administrative law, as put forward by scholars, and then trace the development of Administrative Law, from its origin to the present date. The paper also lays down various functions of Administrative Law, and its growth in India. Further, the author intends to outlineRead MoreEssay Juvenile Delinquency1499 Words   |  6 Pagesofficers, their agencies, and State legislators. When deviant behavior becomes continuous, chronic and widespread it gets perceived as a significant part of the population as threatening to the general well-being of society (Thompson and Bynum, 2010, p. 44). This is a societal problem that requires attention from various forms of social control. However, a lot of the burden is absorbed by an imperfect Juvenile Justice System. As time has passed, argument has ensued over what should be done with theRead MoreAll Of World History : What Makes American Society?971 Words   |  4 Pagessignifica nt control in one of a few sectors of American society; this can be political, economical or military. What differentiates American society from the historical trend of power elites was that it was not required to be born into the power elite, middle class people could find themselves holding quite a lot of power depending on their profession. After quite some time had passed in the United States, some families became established within the power elite, and looked to protect their interests so thatRead More Feminism Essays1237 Words   |  5 Pagesfeminist theories and its attackers. The primary two political groups that have taken a stand against Feminism are â€Å"The New Right† and â€Å"Neoconservatives.† The New Right feels that the welfare state is undermining the â€Å"traditional patriarchal family.† The state has taken over certain family functions such as the health, welfare and education of its citizens. Jerry Falwell, supporter of the New Right and head of the Moral Majority, argues that â€Å"in order to revitalize the capitalist economy, and create aRead MoreThe History of the First World War Essay611 Words   |  3 PagesExperience of World War I 1. What was the mood at the outset of the war, and what caused it? At the outset of the war was that all of the people were excited, they wanted action therefore praising the army, the people were very nationalistic. The war was caused by a buildup of nationalist ideas and growing tensions between countries. The people were bored and nationalism inspired the people to start wars. 2. What were the main · features of trench warfare for the troops involved? What would happen to peopleRead MoreThe Global Financial Crisis And Protectionism1454 Words   |  6 Pagesproducers. How might this have distorted international trade? Was this a reasonable thing to do given the circumstances? Introduction There was an empirical research study on the effect of protectionism on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States (US). According to National Bureau Of Economic Research, â€Å"a generalized 10 percent hike against emerging Asia improves the US current account balance as a share of GDP by a mere 0.1 percentage point. The effect disappears after about two years, andRead MoreEssay about Animal Rights1553 Words   |  7 Pages The issue of animal experimentation is a widely debated topic in the United States. A fundamental question of this debate is whether the functions of animal testing and research are morally and ethically justified. In the viewpoint of the pro-research community, animal testing is a necessary practice. They support this position by stating that humans, instinctually, prioritize their own survival above other animals thus making any use of animals justifiable (Fox 5). The supporters of animal testingRead MoreChild Welfare Is A Program That Helps Impro ve The Lives Of Disadvantaged Children845 Words   |  4 Pagesparenting skills in the United States. In these types of examples, the children are put at risk of not having a stable home and even take the chance of being malnutrition amongst other health issues. Child welfare is a program that helps improve the lives of disadvantaged children (Dictionary.com website, 2016, para. 1). Often times all it takes is an intervention to help the families out in order for them to understand what needs to change so the family is able to function in a more positive manner.Read MoreAnimal Cruelty Should Not Be A Big Deal1415 Words   |  6 PagesSeeing an animal get brutalize by some humans seems to be cruel. Getting kicked in the ribs, left for starvation and even used for entertainment seems to be heartless. Why abuse animals when they have not done anything to harm a human. If one must see what they are really doing to these animals, then animal cruelty would not be a big deal. There are two types of animal cruelty, â€Å"cruelty can be manifested in two ways: actively and passively. Active behavior includes ‘acts of commission. Passive behaviorRead MoreThe Welfare System Within New Zealand1626 Words   |  7 Pagesgetting help through different resources and services. A reoccurring function that keeps arising within New Zealand society, however, is the unemployment factor, as it has lead to recent welfare reforms. Due to the cause of people being unemployed it then leads them to a welfare dependency which they then become more reliant on benefits and tend to pass this easy knowledge on to the next generation and so on. Thus, the welfare system within New Zealand has had a negative impact on health, social