Federalism and the Welfare State in a Multicultural World (Volume 198) (Queen’s Policy Studies Series)

A timely evaluation of Canadian social welfare policy. A timely evaluation of Canadian social welfare policy. "Social policy is integral to mitigating divisions of class, region, language, race and ethnicity, and its underlying values of solidarity and risk-sharing also make it a critical mechanism for nation-building. Whether social policy actually accomplishes these goals is variable and contested, however. The mere fact of pooling risk poses the question of who "we" are, with exclusionary implications as much as inclusionary ones. Despite various challenges, until the 1990s there was some evidence that Canadian social policy played an integrative role, providing a counter-narrative to pessimistic claims that federalism and diversity undermine the integrative potential of social policy. Today, however, the Canadian model is under strain, reflecting changes in both the welfare state and the immigration-citizenship-multiculturalism regime. As the volume illustrates, there are clear trends that, if unchecked, may exacerbate rather than overcome important social cleavages. We are therefore at a crucial moment to re-evaluate the role of social policy in a federal state and multicultural society, the central task of this volume. If federalism and diversity challenge traditional models of the nation-building function of social policy, they also open up new pathways for social policy to overcome social divisions. Complacency about, or naive celebration of, the Canadian model is unwarranted, but it is premature to conclude that the model is irredeemably broken, or that all the developments are centrifugal rather than centripetal."-- Provided by publisher Until The 1990s Social Policy Played An Integrative Role In Canada, Providing A Counter-narrative To Claims That Federalism And Diversity Undermine The Potential Of Social Policy. Today, However, The Canadian Model Is Under Strain, Reflecting Changes In Both The Welfare State And The Immigration-citizenship-multiculturalism Regime. Federalism And The Welfare State In A Multicultural World Illustrates That There Are Clear Trends That, If Unchecked, May Exacerbate Rather Than Overcome Important Social Cleavages. The Editors Argue That We Are At A Crucial Moment To Re-evaluate The Role Of Social Policy In A Federal State And A Multicultural Society, And If Federalism And Diversity Challenge Traditional Models Of The Nation-building Function Of Social Policy, They Also Open Up New Pathways For Social Policy To Overcome Social Divisions. Complacency About, Or Naive Celebration Of, The Canadian Model Is Unwarranted, But It Is Premature To Conclude That The Model Is Irredeemably Broken, Or That All The Developments Are Centrifugal Rather Than Centripetal. Social Policy Is Integral To Mitigating Divisions Of Class, Region, Language, Race, And Ethnicity, And Its Underlying Values Of Solidarity And Risk-sharing Also Make It A Critical Mechanism For Nation-building. Whether Social Policy Actually Accomplishes These Goals Is Variable And Contested. The Essays In This Volume Provide Some Timely Answers. Cover Title Copyright Contents Biographies Acknowledgments 1 Introduction: The Progressive’s Dilemma 2 The Multiple Pathways to Social Policy: Complex Diversity and Redistribution in Canada Federalism and the Welfare State 3 Is Canadian Federalism Market-Preserving? The View from the Bond Markets 4 Quebec’s New Politics of Redistribution Meets Austerity 5 Designing a Basic Income Guarantee for Canada 6 Federalism, Race, and the American Welfare State 7 Political Institutions and the Welfare State in Canada and the United States Federalism, Immigration, and Diversity 8 Canada’s Changing Citizenship Regime Through the Lens of Immigration and Integration 9 Three Hypotheses on the Relevance of Federalism for the Politics of Immigration and Welfare 10 Is There a Tradeoff Between Ethnic Diversity and Redistribution? The Case of Income Assistance in Canada Diversity and Solidarity 11 Multiculturalism Policy and Support for the Welfare State 12 Does Everyone Cheer? The Politics of Immigration and Multiculturalism in Canada 13 The Life and Death of Multiculturalism Index