social policy

social problems

• social behaviour that causes public frictiion or private misery and calls for collective action to solve

social policy

• the action of government that may have a direct impact on the welfare of citzens or their social control

• some sociologst have knowledge for its own sake as their goal

• others are directeed interested in social problems and may have a direct impact on social policys if given a remit by government

factors influence policy - ideological standpoint of government

• researchers values may be similar to governments

• the role of think tanks

• government anticipates a sympathetic outcome and justifcation of the intended policy

factors influence policy → cost

• implementation of recommendations depends on spending priortises and sufficent funds

electoral popularity

• findings and recommendations point to a policy that is popular or unpopular with voters

factors influence policy → interest groups

• groups who seek influence government policy

factors influence policy → globalsation

• international organsations may influence social policy; states cannot make decsions in isolations

factors influence policy → indirect influence

• existing research becomes part of the mainstream and shapes perceptions of problems and policies

functionalism and positivism

• directly related to policy

• as a science which establishes casual relationships it explains social problems and leads to solutions to improve society - e.g durkheim society needs formal education system to promote societal cohesion and provide knowledge and skills for specialised role divsion

• objective information for policy formation

• policies are rationally produced for the good of all - e.g housing policies that assist the family function more effectively

• ‘piecemeal social engineering’ - a cautions appeoach that tackles one social problem at a time

• but single policies make little impact in the context of the adverse sociteal stucture - e.g equalitly of opportunity policies relating to schools and educational atianment are nullified by class

marxism

• state policies serve the interests of capitalism

• they provide ideological legitmation - the welafare makes it appear that the system cares

• policies buy off working class oppostion to capitalism

• social policies do provide benefits but are subject to welfare cuts when capitalism is experecing economic instablitly

• research is limited if it reveals the unpalatable truth that capitalism will always put profit before human need

• the only soultion is the overthrow of capitalism

• researchers should reveal realtionships and be critical

• however this is impratical and unrealsitic

feminism

• gender conflict and patrichary - giving family tax benefits to nuclear families making the alternative very difficult

• feminist research impact on policy - the role of liberal feminism and anti discrimation law, radical feminism and domestic violence

• however reformist social policies cannot liberate women - marxist feminists suggest a radical overhaul

the new right

• state should have a minumal input

• murray - creates a culture of depencies and irresponsiblitly

• policies should be aimed at the nuclear family

• attractive to the conservative party

• emphasis on social control - wilson and kellings ‘broken windows’

• however - question of qualitly and objectivity,

social democratic perspective

• townsend - should unviel the causes of social problem and soultions, e.g more public spending on health and education to elvaite poverty

• the black report saw class inequalties in health - commissioned by the labour government and made recommendations like Fsm

• policies can be far reaching but they are not enough when problms are grounded in capitlaism - only solutuin to abolish capitalism and this is unlikely