Social Policy A Critical Introduction

This 2nd edition of a highly respected textbook offers a comprehensive introduction to Irish social policy. It provides an accessible, critical overview taking account of significant changes over recent years. The book is organised across four key sections: 1: Traces the emergence and development of Irish social policy from its origins to the present 2: Situates the Irish case in the wider context of the politics, ideology and socio-economic factors relevant to the development and reform of welfare states 3: Analyses core social service areas with specific reference to the contemporary Irish context 4: Explores how social policy affects particular groups in Irish society including children, older people, people with disabilities, carers, new immigrant and minority ethnic groups, and LGBT people. Discusses the challenges posed by environmental issues and the importance of a social policy perspective Text boxes used throughout provide policy summaries, definitions of key concepts, along with guides for further reading and discussion. This is a valuable resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Irish social policy and allied subjects.

This major new introductory textbook in social policy breaks new ground in arguing for the centrality of race, gender and class in welfare theory and practice. The book describes and evaluates the major theoretical perspectives on welfare, as well as the different strands of feminism and work on racism which are relevant to social policy. The author develops a new analytical framework for the study of the welfare state which takes account of factors deriving from capitalism, patriarchy, racism and the international division of labour. This framework is then used to re-examine the major developments in the history of the welfare state in Britain, from the nineteenth century to the so-called crisis of the welfare state today. Fiona Williams draws out the implications of her approach for current debates about welfare policy and strategy. Social Policy is an indispensable introductory text for all students and teachers of social policy and administration who want a clear, challenging and politically relevant approach to welfare studies.

Welfare states face profound challenges. Widening economic and social inequalities have been intensified by austerity politics, sharpened by the rise in ethno-nationalism and exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, recent decades have seen a resurgence of social justice activism at the local and transnational level. Yet the transformative power of feminist, anti-racist and post/decolonial thinking has become relatively marginal to core social policy theory, while other critical approaches – around disability, sexuality, migration, age and the environment – have only selectively found recognition. This book provides a much-needed new analysis of this complex landscape, drawing together critical approaches in social policy with intersectionality and political economy. Fiona Williams contextualizes contemporary social policies not only in the global crisis of finance capitalism, but also in the interconnected global crises of care, ecology, and racialized borders. These shape and are shaped at national scale by the intersecting dynamics of Family, Nation, Work and Nature. Through critical assessment of these realities, the book probes the ethical, prefigurative and transformative possibilities for a future welfare commons. This significant intervention will animate social policy thinking, teaching and research. It will be essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the complexities of social policy for the years ahead.

Explains and analyses the development of contemporary social policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. It helps students to understand the conflicting values and perspectives in policy-making and implementation, and to relate the theories of social policy with the practices they will encounter in the field.

Equips students with a critical perspective and develops their understanding of social work practice.