Transformation of the Welfare State : The Silent Surrender of Public Responsibility

Since the early 1970s, debate has raged over the ''crisis of the welfare state.'' As the United States successfully exported its bootstrap brand of capitalism and an ever-broadening range of public activity came to be viewed through the prism of profit and loss, social welfare policies were closely scrutinized worldwide. Welfare was no longer seen as a means to remedy the inherent flaws of capitalism, but rather was recast as part of the very problem it was designed to solve. At the same time, the glaring systemic deficiencies of extant welfare systems-and the psychological toll of welfare dependency--became increasingly apparent, even to welfare's supporters. How much has really changed in the world of welfare? A great deal, according to Neil Gilbert, one of our most deeply engaged and thoughtful analysts of social welfare policy. In this panoramic inquiry, Gilbert spans the globe to assess, in provocative yet dispassionate fashion, what welfare looks like in a free market world. From Sweden to the U.S., Gilbert finds a fundamental transformation in the welfare state--a turn away from broad-based entitlements and automatic benefits to a new, ''enabling'' approach defined by policies designed to promote privatization and labor force participation. He provides tangible evidence of how these new systems promote work and responsibility over protection and how they thicken the glue of civil society by diluting the pervasive role of government. Since The Early 1970s, Debate Has Raged Over The Crisis Of The Welfare State. As The United States Successfully Exported Its Bootstrap Brand Of Capitalism And An Ever-broadening Range Of Public Activity Came To Be Viewed Through The Prism Of Profit And Loss, Social Welfare Policies Were Closely Scrutinized Worldwide. Welfare Was No Longer A Means To Remedy The Inherent Flaws Of Capitalism, But Rather Was Recast As Part Of The Very Problem It Was Designed To Solve. At The Same Time, The Glaring Systemic Deficiencies Of Extant Welfare Systems -- And The Psychological Toll Of Welfare Dependency --^ Became Increasingly Apparent, Even To Welfare's Supporters. How Much Has Really Changed In The World Of Welfare? A Great Deal, According To Neil Gilbert, One Of Our Most Deeply Engaged And Thoughtful Analysts Of Social Welfare Policy. In This Panoramic Inquiry, Gilbert Spans The Globe To Assess, In Provocative Yet Dispassionate Fashion, What Welfare Looks Like In A Free Market World. From Sweden To The U.s., Gilbert Finds A Fundamental Transformation In The Welfare State --^ A Turn Away From Broad-based Entitlements And Automatic Benefits To A New, Enabling Approach Defined By Policies That Designed To Promote Privatization And Labor Force Participation. He Provides Tangible Evidence Of How These New Systems Promote Work And Responsibility Over Protection And How They Thicken The Glue Of Civil Society By Diluting The Pervasive Role Of Government. Translating The New Language Of Solidarity, Activation, And Social Inclusion That Has Accompanied These Changes, Gilbert Reveals That These Shifts Have Had Surprisingly Broadbased Support. Traditional Welfare Supporters On The Left Are Silently Implementing Reforms Long Associated With The Policy Agenda Of The Right. Gilbert Concludes With Policy Recommendations Intended To Temper The Harder, Unforgiving Edges Of This New Social Protection Mentality With Pragmatic Assistance For Those Left Behind.^ Illuminating A Fundamental Shift In The Design Of Modern Welfare Systems, This Landmark Work Is A Must-read For Anyone Concerned With Social Policy Today. Author Notes: Neil Gilbert Is Chernin Professor Of Social Welfare And Social Service At The University Of California, Berkeley. Introduction -- Part I: Currents Of Change: New Course Or Marginal Adjustment? -- Toward The Enabling State -- Part Ii: Lines Of Convergence: Protection To Inclusion: Promoting Work -- State To Market: Subsidizing Private Activity -- Universal To Selective: Targeting Benefits -- Citizenship To Membership: Restoring Solidarity? -- Part Iii: Social Implications: The Triumph Of Capitalism, And Its Discontents. Neil Gilbert. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. ## Abstract This book is the outgrowth of a large‐scale comparative project on the changing landscape of the welfare state initiated by the author in 1997. In it, it is argued that the changes in welfare policy being witnessed in Europe and the USA are not marginal adjustments to the borders of the welfare state, but represent a fundamental shift or transformation in the design and philosophy of social protection. The author argues that there has been a turn away from the conventional welfare‐state emphasis on broad‐based entitlements, passive income supports, and publicly delivered benefits, towards a new ‘enabling’ approach under which welfare allocations are more selective on the bases of income and behaviour, and are activity related, and privately delivered. The shift to this ‘enabling state’ is traced, and evidence provided of how the new system promotes work and economic inclusion over protection, and how it changes the nature of social cohesion, diluting the role of government and thickening the glue of civil society. The likely readership is sociologists, political scientists, economists, historians, and social workers. Contents......Page 12 Foreword......Page 14 Introduction......Page 20 Part I: Currents of Change......Page 24 1. New Course or Marginal Adjustment?......Page 26 2. Toward the Enabling State......Page 49 Part II: Lines of Convergence......Page 76 3. Protection to Inclusion: Promoting Work......Page 78 4. State to Market: Subsidizing Private Activity......Page 116 5. Universal to Selective: Targeting Benefits......Page 152 6. Citizenship to Membership: Restoring Solidarity?......Page 174 Part III: Social Implications......Page 194 7. The Triumph of Capitalism—and Its Discontents......Page 196 B......Page 214 C......Page 215 E......Page 216 G......Page 217 L......Page 218 N......Page 219 P......Page 220 S......Page 221 T......Page 223 W......Page 224 Z......Page 225 Contents 12 Foreword 14 Introduction 20 Part I: Currents of Change 24 1. New Course or Marginal Adjustment? 26 2. Toward the Enabling State 49 Part II: Lines of Convergence 76 3. Protection to Inclusion: Promoting Work 78 4. State to Market: Subsidizing Private Activity 116 5. Universal to Selective: Targeting Benefits 152 6. Citizenship to Membership: Restoring Solidarity? 174 Part III: Social Implications 194 7. The Triumph of Capitalism—and Its Discontents 196 Index 214 A 214 B 214 C 215 D 216 E 216 F 217 G 217 H 218 I 218 J 218 K 218 L 218 M 219 N 219 O 220 P 220 Q 221 R 221 S 221 T 223 U 224 V 224 W 224 Y 225 Z 225 In this work, Neil Gilbert argues that the changes in welfare policy we are witnessing in Europe and the US are not marginal adjustments to the borders of the welfare state, but represent a fundamental shift in the philosophy of social protection Over the last decade, arrangements for social protection have undergone a series of policy changes that are redrawing the boundaries and transforming the character of welfare states in many, if not all, of the industrialized nations.