Five Risk and post-traditional welfare
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Kirk Mann
Abstract
The first task of this chapter is to try and clarify the key features of a post-modern perspective. Distinguishing this from accounts that observe post-modernity without necessarily subscribing to a post-modern frame and from accounts that are ‘post-traditional’ is equally important. The observer must not be confused with the enthusiastic participant. However, before doing so it would be reasonable to make the case for including a chapter on post-modern/post-traditional perspectives, since this could be seen as an unwarranted intrusion by some ill-mannered sociological neighbours who mock the cherished, but ‘kitsch’ possessions within the home of social policy (Mann, 1998; Soper, 1993).
Although a number of distinct and different insights are provided by observers of post-modernity (Bauman, 1992), post-scarcity society (Harvey, 1994), risk society (Beck, 1992) and commentators on post-traditional society (Giddens, 1994, 1998), the number and type of ‘posts’ alone can be confusing to the uninitiated. Here five themes are seen as significant and although some are peculiar to one ‘post’ perspective, others are shared, albeit with a few quibbles over the degree of consensus.
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First, there is a suggestion that a number of social changes have combined in a manner that means society is very different today from 50 years ago when the ‘modern’ welfare state was established.
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Second, these changes pose fundamental questions about the ability of any form of public welfare to address the desires and needs of the population.
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Third, some of the brightest sociological minds are persuaded that contemporary developed societies, like Britain, the US and Australia, are qualitatively different to their predecessors, wrestling by and large with the problems of success rather than failure.
Abstract
The first task of this chapter is to try and clarify the key features of a post-modern perspective. Distinguishing this from accounts that observe post-modernity without necessarily subscribing to a post-modern frame and from accounts that are ‘post-traditional’ is equally important. The observer must not be confused with the enthusiastic participant. However, before doing so it would be reasonable to make the case for including a chapter on post-modern/post-traditional perspectives, since this could be seen as an unwarranted intrusion by some ill-mannered sociological neighbours who mock the cherished, but ‘kitsch’ possessions within the home of social policy (Mann, 1998; Soper, 1993).
Although a number of distinct and different insights are provided by observers of post-modernity (Bauman, 1992), post-scarcity society (Harvey, 1994), risk society (Beck, 1992) and commentators on post-traditional society (Giddens, 1994, 1998), the number and type of ‘posts’ alone can be confusing to the uninitiated. Here five themes are seen as significant and although some are peculiar to one ‘post’ perspective, others are shared, albeit with a few quibbles over the degree of consensus.
-
First, there is a suggestion that a number of social changes have combined in a manner that means society is very different today from 50 years ago when the ‘modern’ welfare state was established.
-
Second, these changes pose fundamental questions about the ability of any form of public welfare to address the desires and needs of the population.
-
Third, some of the brightest sociological minds are persuaded that contemporary developed societies, like Britain, the US and Australia, are qualitatively different to their predecessors, wrestling by and large with the problems of success rather than failure.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Acronyms and glossary of terms vii
- Introduction 1
- Social divisions, exclusion and retirement 17
- Two versions of political economy: ease and plenty or immiseration and crisis? 49
- Consumption, consumers and choice 79
- Post-work and post-structuralism: first past the post? 111
- Risk and post-traditional welfare 143
- Looking (or put out) for greener grass? Some comparative measures of ‘success’ 173
- Prophets, profits and uncertain conclusions 207
- Bibliography 225
- Index 255
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Acronyms and glossary of terms vii
- Introduction 1
- Social divisions, exclusion and retirement 17
- Two versions of political economy: ease and plenty or immiseration and crisis? 49
- Consumption, consumers and choice 79
- Post-work and post-structuralism: first past the post? 111
- Risk and post-traditional welfare 143
- Looking (or put out) for greener grass? Some comparative measures of ‘success’ 173
- Prophets, profits and uncertain conclusions 207
- Bibliography 225
- Index 255
