Fourteen Social policy since 1979: a view from the USA
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Joseph White
Abstract
This chapter endorses the notion of a Labour sea change, which implies that prior to Thatcherism, things were very different. It describes some aspects of that difference, and emphasises the influence of the British welfare state upon American practice and thinking on social policy before 1979. This is followed by a study of unbroken Tory rule between 1979 and 1997. It then views New Labour from the standpoint of its representation of continuing Thatcherism. The chapter ends with a section of the future prospects for the welfare state in the United States and in Britain.
Abstract
This chapter endorses the notion of a Labour sea change, which implies that prior to Thatcherism, things were very different. It describes some aspects of that difference, and emphasises the influence of the British welfare state upon American practice and thinking on social policy before 1979. This is followed by a study of unbroken Tory rule between 1979 and 1997. It then views New Labour from the standpoint of its representation of continuing Thatcherism. The chapter ends with a section of the future prospects for the welfare state in the United States and in Britain.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
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Developments in UK social policy
- Housing policy: coming in from the cold? 13
- The NHS in England: from modernisation to marketisation? 29
- Developments in social security 45
- The rise of the meritocracy? New Labour and education in the second term 61
- The personal social services 81
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Social policy in the wider context
- ‘Scottish solutions to Scottish problems’? Social welfare in Scotland since devolution 101
- The primacy of ideology: social policy and the first term of the National Assembly for Wales 121
- Attlee versus Blair: Labour governments and progressive social policy in historical perspective 143
- Christian democracy, social democracy and the continental ‘welfare without work’ syndrome 167
- Activation through thick and thin: progressive approaches to labour market activation 187
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Social policy since 1979 – the impact of Thatcherism
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the right 211
- Mrs Thatcher’s legacy: getting it in perspective 231
- Privatisation, privatisation, privatisation: the British welfare state since 1979 251
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the USA 271
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
- Introduction 1
-
Developments in UK social policy
- Housing policy: coming in from the cold? 13
- The NHS in England: from modernisation to marketisation? 29
- Developments in social security 45
- The rise of the meritocracy? New Labour and education in the second term 61
- The personal social services 81
-
Social policy in the wider context
- ‘Scottish solutions to Scottish problems’? Social welfare in Scotland since devolution 101
- The primacy of ideology: social policy and the first term of the National Assembly for Wales 121
- Attlee versus Blair: Labour governments and progressive social policy in historical perspective 143
- Christian democracy, social democracy and the continental ‘welfare without work’ syndrome 167
- Activation through thick and thin: progressive approaches to labour market activation 187
-
Social policy since 1979 – the impact of Thatcherism
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the right 211
- Mrs Thatcher’s legacy: getting it in perspective 231
- Privatisation, privatisation, privatisation: the British welfare state since 1979 251
- Social policy since 1979: a view from the USA 271
- Index 291
