perspectives on social policy & sociology

what do positivists argue about social policy & sociology?

sociology is a science and so it should discover the cause of social problems and the scientific solution to them

what is an example of functionalist sociology influencing policy?

Durkheim’s analysis led him to propose a meritocratic education system and the abolition of inherited wealth to create a sense that society is fair

how do functionalists view social policy?

ways to help society run more smoothly & efficiently

what do functionalists believe the sociologist’s role is?

to provide the state with objective, scientific information

what do functionalists favour?

social policies that are piecemeal social engingeering

what is piecemeal social engineering?

a cautious approach that tackles one specific issue at a time

what are the criticisms of the functionalist view on social policy?

• Marxists - educational policies aimed at equalising opportunity for children of different classes are often defeated by the influence of poverty in wider society

• you must change the basic structure of society in order to solve issues

what does the social democratic perspective favour?

a major redistribution of wealth and income from the rich to the poor

what does Townsend argue?

sociologists should be involved in researching social problems and making policy recommendations to solve them

what recommendations did Townsend make?

policies about poverty e.g., higher benefit levels, more public spending on health, education & welfare

what did the Black Report 1980 do?

made 37 far reaching policy recommendations for reducing these inequalities e.g., FSM, improved working conditions and more spending on housing

who commissioned the Black Report?

Labour in 1977

what happened when the Black Report was completed?

Thatcher was in power & refused to implement the recommendations of the ground of its cost and political opposition so she tried to restrict its publication

what are the criticisms of the social democratic perspective?

• Marxists reject the idea that even the far reaching policies of the Black Report are enough to solve the issue and abolishing capitalism is the only way

• government response to the Black Report shows the capitalist state is unlikely to introduce costly public spending policies to benefit the w/c

• postmodernists → impossible to discover objective truth and all knowledge produced by research is uncertain as sociologists can only take the role of interpreters and not the role of legislators

what is the Marxist view on the state?

it represents the ruling class and social policies serve the interests of capitalism

how do social policies serve the interests of capitalism?

• policies provide ideological legitimation to mask capitalist exploitation

• maintains the labour force for further exploitation

• means of preventing revolution

what do Marxists argue about the limited benefits of social policy?

they can produce real benefits to the w/c but such gains are constantly threatened with reversal by capitalism’s tendency to go into periodic crises of profitability leading to cuts in state spending on welfare

what do Marxists believe the sociologist’s main role is?

to criticise capitalist social policy and not to serve the capitalist state

what are the criticisms of the Marxist view of social policy?

• impractical + unrealistic

• social democrats → should not reject the idea that research can bring about progressive policies within the capitalist system

how do feminists view social policy?

as perpetuating women’s subordination and creating a SFP around a patriarchal family

what is an example of feminist research impacting social policy?

in education, learning materials now promote more positive images of females + there is training to sensitise teachers the need to avoid gender bias

what kind of feminism do policies reflect?

liberal

how has radical feminism influenced policy?

refuges for women escaping DV reflect separatism e.g., Women’s Aid Federation

what is the New Right view of social policy?

the state should only have minimal involvement in society and they are opposed to welfare

what does Murray say about generous welfare benefits?

they act as perverse incentives that weaken a family’s self-reliance

what do the New Right see the role of sociologists as?

to propose alternative policies that aim to restore individual’s responsibility for their own welfare, rather than leaving it to the state

what is Breakdown Britain?

a conservative think tank report that proposes a range of new social policies aimed at the family e.g., marriage preparation and parenting classes, support for mothers at home from the tax system

how has the New Right influenced social policy?

• Thatcherism

• New Labour regards a married couple as normally the best place to bring up children

• ZTP [Wilson & Kelling]

what are the criticisms of the New Right view on social policy?

• researched used has been questioned for validity

• policy proposals often use the findings of politically sympathetic think tanks