Sociology and Social Policy

What is Worsley’s sociological theory?

Sociology is not always connected to social issues and therefore can exist without the purpose of informing social policy

What is Brewer’s sociological theory?

Sociology should address social problems and interventions by sociologists should inform the construction of social policy

What is the Functionalist’ theoretical approach?

Durkheim- The purpose of sociology is to be able to analyse social issues and provide solutions, however later functionalists thought there should be fewer interventions

What is the Marxist’ theoretical approach?

Suspicious of the role of the state in maintaining the status of the elites at the expense of the working class, despite believing that sociology should change society

What is the Feminist’ theoretical approach?

• Radical Feminism- Social policies serve to reinforce traditional gender roles and patriarchal interest

• Liberal Feminism- Used existing structures to make positive changes for women

What is the Realist Theory’s theoretical approach?

Realist theories look to use sociological research to inform practical actions that governments can take to inform their policies, particularly on crime

What is the New Right’s theoretical approach?

State intervention should be minimal in the lives of individuals and the economy, however, the promotion of traditional conservative social policies has had impacts on society

• Education- Marketisation and Privatisation

• Welfare- Reduced state benefits and decrease in taxation

What is the Social Democratic Approaches’ theoretical approach?

The ideas of Giddens heavily influenced New Labour- ‘filling the gaps’ as part of third-way politics, combining social and economic development

Why does the clash of ideologies not inform social policies?

Critical approaches such as Marxism often clash with more moderate and conservative ideologies

Why does cost not inform social policies?

Sociologists look at ideal solutions that might not be practical. E.g. Black Report recommendations too costly to implement

Why do methodologies not inform social policies?

Interpretivist methods often are too small-scale to be implemented by governments that look for big-impact policies to ensure public support

Why do think tanks not inform social policies?

Often government policy is influenced by groups of experts that propose ideas for closer connections to serving ministers than sociologists

Why does the impacts of globalisation not inform social policies?

The role of international governmental organisations such as the IMF, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation influence social policy, particularly on social spending and the economy

What are the examples of sociology informing social policy?

• Right and Left realist influence on tackling crime

• New Right ideologies influencing education

• Gidden’s Influence on New Labour

• Government funding for universities, charities and groups to conduct social research is often based on the social needs of society