new right perspective on social policy

New Right fundamental view

• The New Right is a p____ and c____ view which is strongly in favour of what type of family?

• They see this family type as naturally s____-r____ and capable of caring and providing for its members, especially the successful s__ of children.

New Right fundamental view

• The New Right is a political and conservative view which is strongly in favour of the conventional or 'traditional' nuclear family based on a married, heterosexual couple, with a division of labour between a male provider and a female homemaker.

• They see this family type as naturally self-reliant and capable of caring and providing for its members, especially the successful socialisation of children.

• In their view, the changes that have led to greater f____ d___, such as increases in what 4 things? are threatening the c____ f___ and producing social problems such as c____ and w____ d____.

For the New Right, state policies have encouraged these changes and helped to undermine the n____ f___. For example, B____ A___ (2006) argues that:

• Laws making divorce easier undermine what idea

• The introduction of civil partnerships (and since 2014 marriage) for gay and lesbian couples sends out what type of message

• Tax laws discriminate against c____ families with a s___ (usually male) breadwinner. They cannot transfer the non-working partner's (usually the wife's) tax allowances to the w____ p____, so they tend to pay more tax than what type of couples, each of whom has a tax allowance.

• In their view, the changes that have led to greater family diversity, such as increases in divorce, cohabitation, same-sex partnerships and lone parenthood, are threatening the conventional family and producing social problems such as crime and welfare dependency.

For the New Right, state policies have encouraged these changes and helped to undermine the nuclear family. For example, Brenda Almond (2006) argues that:

• Laws making divorce easier undermine the idea of marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman.

• The introduction of civil partnerships (and since 2014 marriage) for gay and lesbian couples sends out the message that the state no longer sees heterosexual marriage as superior to other domestic set-ups.

• Tax laws discriminate against conventional families with a sole (usually male) breadwinner. They cannot transfer the non-working partner's (usually the wife's) tax allowances to the working partner, so they tend to pay more tax than dual-earner couples, each of whom has a tax allowance.

• Continuing on, the New Right point out that increased rights for unmarried cohabitants, such as what 3 things , begin to make what things more similar

• This sends out the signal that the state does not see m___ as special

• Continuing on, the New Right point out that increased rights for unmarried cohabitants, such as adoption rights and succession to council house tenancies and pension rights when a partner dies, begin to make cohabitation and marriage more similar.

• This sends out the signal that the state does not see marriage as special

Lone parents, welfare policy and the dependency culture

• New Right commentators such as C____ M____ (1984; 1990) are particularly critical of what

• In their view, providing 'g_____' w____ benefits, such as council housing for who and cash payments to support who undermines the c____ n____ f____ and encourages d____ and d____ family types that h___ s____.

Lone parents, welfare policy and the dependency culture

• New Right commentators such as Charles Murray (1984; 1990) are particularly critical of welfare policy.

• In their view, providing 'generous' welfare benefits, such as council housing for unmarried teenage mothers and cash payments to support lone-parent families, undermines the conventional nuclear family and encourages deviant and dysfunctional family types that harm society.

Lone parents, welfare policy and the dependency culture

Murray argues that these welfare benefits offer 'p____ i____' - that is, they reward what type of behaviour. For example:

• If absent fathers see that the state will do what, what will the fathers then do ?

• Providing council housing for who encourages what

• The growth of l____-p____ families, encouraged by g____ b____, means more boys grow up without what. This lack of p___ a____ is responsible for a r___ c___ rate among young males.

Lone parents, welfare policy and the dependency culture

Murray argues that these welfare benefits offer 'perverse incentives' - that is, they reward irresponsible or anti-social behaviour. For example:

• If fathers see that the state will maintain their children, some of them will abandon their responsibilities towards their families.

• Providing council housing for unmarried teenage mothers encourages young girls to become pregnant.

• The growth of lone-parent families, encouraged by generous benefits, means more boys grow up without a male role model and authority figure. This lack of paternal authority is responsible for a rising crime rate among young males.

Lone parents, welfare policy and the dependency culture

• Thus for the New Right, social policy has a major impact on family roles and relationships

• Current policies are encouraging what, where individuals come to d____ on the s____ to support them and their children rather than being s___-r___.

This threatens two essential functions that the family fulfils for society_ what are they?

Lone parents, welfare policy and the dependency culture

• Thus for the New Right, social policy has a major impact on family roles and relationships

• Current policies are encouraging a dependency culture, where individuals come to depend on the state to support them and their children rather than being self-reliant.

This threatens two essential functions that the family fulfils for society;

• the successful socialisation of the young

• the maintenance of the work ethic among men.

the New Right's solution to dependency culture

The New Right's solution to these problems is simple

• They argue that the policy must be changed, in what 2 ways?

In their view, this would have several advantages.

• cutting welfare benefits would mean what

• denying council housing to unmarried teenage mothers would do what

the New Right's solution to dependency culture

The New Right's solution to these problems is simple

• They argue that the policy must be changed, with cuts in welfare spending and tighter restrictions on who is eligible for benefits.

In their view, this would have several advantages.

• cutting welfare benefits would mean that taxes could also be reduced, and both these changes would give fathers more incentive to work and to provide for their families.

• denying council housing to unmarried teenage mothers would remove a major incentive to become pregnant when very young

the New Right's solution to dependency culture

• The New Right also advocate policies to support the traditional nuclear family, such as what 2 things?

• Whereas functionalists what view? the New Right disagree.

• In their view, the less the state does what , the better family life will be. Greater s____-r___, and not r____ on the s____, is what will enable the family to meet its members' needs most effectively.

the New Right's solution to dependency culture

• The New Right also advocate policies to support the traditional nuclear family, such as taxes that favour married rather than cohabiting couples, and making absent fathers financially responsible for their children.

• Whereas functionalists take the view that state welfare policies can benefit the family and make it better able to meet its members' needs, the New Right disagree.

• In their view, the less the state interferes' in families, the better family life will be. Greater self-reliance, and not reliance on the state, is what will enable the family to meet its members' needs most effectively.

The New Right's influence on policies

• The New Right is a c____ view of the family that first developed in the 19___s.

• Therefore we might expect it to have had a strong influence on the Conservative Party's policies towards the family.

• However, Conservative policies since the 1970s show a more mixed picture.

• We can also see some similarities between New Right ideas and New Labour policies

The New Right's influence on policies

• The New Right is a conservative view of the family that first developed in the 1970s.

• Therefore we might expect it to have had a strong influence on the Conservative Party's policies towards the family.

• However, Conservative policies since the 1970s show a more mixed picture.

• We can also see some similarities between New Right ideas and New Labour policies

The New Right's influence on policies

what 3 governments have some sort of New Right influence

• Conservative governments 1979-97

• New Labour governments 1997-2010

• Conservative-led governments from 2010

The New Right's influence on policies - Conservative governments 1979-97

• Reflecting a New Right view, who’s Conservative government banned the promotion of h____ by local authorities.

• This included a ban on teaching what?

• The Conservatives also defined divorce as a s___ p____ (a view held by the New Right) and emphasised the continued r____ of parents for their children after d____.

• They set up the C____ S____ A___ to enforce maintenance payments by absent parents (usually fathers).

• On the other hand, the Conservatives introduced measures opposed by the New Right, such as what?

The New Right's influence on policies - Conservative governments 1979-97

• Reflecting a New Right view, Mrs Thatcher's Conservative government banned the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities.

• This included a ban on teaching that homosexuality was an acceptable family relationship.

• The Conservatives also defined divorce as a social problem (a view held by the New Right) and emphasised the continued responsibility of parents for their children after divorce.

• They set up the Child Support Agency to enforce maintenance payments by absent parents (usually fathers).

• On the other hand, the Conservatives introduced measures opposed by the New Right, such as making divorce easier and giving 'illegitimate' children (those born outside marriage) the same rights as those born to married parents.

The New Right's influence on policies - New Labour governments 1997-2010

We can see some similarities between New Right views and those of New Labour.

• Like the New Right, New Labour took the view that the family is what and saw a family headed by a m____, h____ couple as the best environment for what?

• Also like the New Right, New Labour emphasised the need for parents to take r____ for their children, for example by introducing P____ O____ for parents of t____ and y___ o___.

• However, as E____ S___ and C____ S___ (1999) note, New Labour rejected the New Right view that the family should have just one what recognised that w—— too now go out to w___.

The New Right's influence on policies - New Labour governments 1997-2010

We can see some similarities between New Right views and those of New Labour.

• Like the New Right, New Labour took the view that the family is the bedrock of society and saw a family headed by a married, heterosexual couple as the best environment for bringing up children.

• Also like the New Right, New Labour emphasised the need for parents to take responsibility for their children, for example by introducing Parenting Orders for parents of truants and young offenders.

• However, as Elizabeth Silva and Carol Smart (1999) note, New Labour rejected the New Right view that the family should have just one (male) earner and recognised that women too now go out to work.

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The New Right's influence on policies - New Labour governments 1997-2010

Thus New Labour policies favoured the kind of d___-e____ n___- c_____ family described by R____ C____.These policies included:

• Longer m____ leave, t____ months' u___ leave for both parents and the right to seek t___ off work for family reasons. These policies made it easier for what to happen?

• W____ F_____ T____ Credit, enabling parents to claim some t____ r___ on c____ c____ costs.

• The N____ D___, helping l___ parents to return to work.

how do These policies reflect a further difference with the New Right,

For example, their w___, t____ and m____ w____ policies were partly aimed at lifting children out of poverty by re-distributing, whereas the New Right disapprove of what

The New Right's influence on policies - New Labour governments 1997-2010

Thus New Labour policies favoured the kind of dual-earner neo-conventional family described by Robert Chester.These policies included:

• Longer maternity leave, three months' unpaid leave for both parents and the right to seek time off work for family reasons. These policies made it easier for both parents to work.

• Working Families Tax Credit, enabling parents to claim some tax relief on childcare costs.

• The New Deal, helping lone parents to return to work.

These policies reflect a further difference with the New Right, who oppose state intervention. New Labour argued instead that certain kinds of state intervention can improve life for families.

For example, their welfare, taxation and minimum wage policies were partly aimed at lifting children out of poverty by re-distributing income to the poor through higher benefits, whereas the New Right disapprove of redistributing income through taxes and benefits

The New Right's influence on policies - New Labour governments 1997-2010

A final area of difference with the New Right was in New Labour's support for alternatives to what. This included policies such as:

• civil partnerships for what couples

• giving u____ couples the same rights to a___ as m___ couples

• outlawing d_____ on grounds of s___.

A final area of difference with the New Right was in New Labour's support for alternatives to the conventional heterosexual nuclear family. This included policies such as:

• civil partnerships for same-sex couples

• giving unmarried couples the same rights to adopt as married couples

• outlawing discrimination on grounds of sexuality.

The New Right's influence on policies - Conservative-led governments from 2010

The Conservatives have long been divided between R____ H____ (2010) calls:

• M______ who recognise that families are now more d____ and are willing to r____ this in their p____

• T_____ who favour a New Right view and reject d____ as m___ w___.

• This division means that the Conservatives have found it hard to maintain what

• For example, the C_____-l____ government introduced what, a policy opposed by the New Right.

• T____ influence was also weakened by the Conservatives having to do what

• Critics argue that Conservative f____ a____ p____ reflect the New Right's desire to cut w___ s____.

• However, the Conservatives failed to introduce policies to promote the what. For example, B____ (2012) found that t____-p____ families were p____ by tax and benefits policies.

• Shared p____ l ___ introduced in 20___ and increased free c____ for working parents in 20__ also undermine the New Rights preferred m___-b____ family.

The New Right's influence on policies - Conservative-led governments from 2010

The Conservatives have long been divided between Richard Hayton (2010) calls:

• Modernisers who recognise that families are now more diverse and are willing to reflect this in their policies

• Traditionalists who favour a New Right view and reject diversity as morally wrong.

• This division means that the Conservatives have found it hard to maintain a consistent policy line on the family.

• For example, the Conservative-led government introduced same-sex marriage, a policy opposed by the New Right.

• Traditionalist influence was also weakened by the Conservatives having to share power in coalition with the Liberal Democrats (2010-15).

• Critics argue that Conservative financial austerity policies reflect the New Right's desire to cut welfare spending.

• However, the Conservatives failed to introduce policies to promote the New Right's nuclear family ideal. For example, Browne (2012) found that two-parent families were penalised by tax and benefits policies.

• Shared parental leave introduced in 2015 and increased free childcare for working parents in 2017 also undermine the New Rights preferred male-breadwinner family.