Political Ideologies and Social Welfare
Political Ideologies and Social Welfare
- Mimi AbramovitzMimi AbramovitzHunter College, City University of New York
Summary
Political ideologies developed to address “social problems” shape public policy debates, social policy strategies, and social work practice. The clashes among the long-standing political traditions—conservatism, liberalism, and radicalism—reflect fundamental and often irreconcilable differences regarding social, economic, and political life. Ideology also shapes theories of racial and gender inequality. These ideological perspectives and theories diverge on several core issues that underpin social welfare provision, including human nature, the role of the market and the state, definition of social problems, and the role of the welfare state. The resulting distinctions provide social workers with a framework to more effectively assess and change social welfare policies.
Keywords
Subjects
- Ethics and Values
- Gender and Sexuality
- Policy and Advocacy
- Race, Ethnicity, and Culture
- Social Justice and Human Rights
Updated in this version
Content and references updated for the Encyclopedia of Macro Social Work.
