Neoliberal paternalism and paradoxical subjects: Confusion and contradiction in UK activation policy

Abstract

The twin thrusts of neoliberal paternalism have in recent decades become fused elements of diverse reform agendas across the advanced economies yet neoliberalism and paternalism present radically divergent and even contradictory views of the subject across four key spaces of ontology, teleology, deontology and ascetics. These internal fractures in the conceptual and resulting policy framework of neoliberal paternalism present considerable risks around unintended policy mismatch across these four spaces or, alternatively, offer significant flexibility by policymakers. This UK C approach to the unemployed and outlines a current policy approach to employment activation that is filled with ambiguity, inconsistency and contradiction in its understanding of the subject, the , and the policy .

Empowerment and Disempowerment of Workfare Volunteers: A Diachronic Approach to Activation Policy in the Netherlands

“…Clients often did become more employable, but that did not bring them employment. We therefore agree with the often raised criticism that activation without the reward of a paid job is humiliating and delegates the responsibility solely to the unemployed instead of (also) to the labour market, government and business (Wiggan, 2015;Whitworth, 2016).…”

Co‐production as a route to employability: Lessons from services with lone parents

“…Another barrier to co‐production within employability services rests in the way that service users are often compelled to connect with delivery organizations as a result of the conditionality regime of the welfare state. Whitworth (, p. 426) notes the inherent contradiction within compulsory activation that presents the unemployed as ‘self‐governing subjects’ but offers ‘no co‐produced processes to engage or develop the agency of the unemployed’. Alford (, p. 131) similarly reflects on the internal tension defining attempts to co‐produce employability where ‘the application of sanctions to induce long‐term unemployed people to search for work will not only be ineffectual but in some cases will be positively counterproductive’.…”

Housing options for older people in a reimagined housing system: a case study from England

“…Neoliberalism, in this context, is understood to be a diverse and shifting series of ideas that share a commitment to a number of key precepts, including individual choice, freedom and responsibility, and an emphasis on certain key mechanisms, in particular, the market logic (Harvey, 2005). A small state has often been portrayed as key to achieving these 'freedoms', but in reality neoliberalism has increasingly sought to harness the state to protect and enhance the operation of the 'free market' (Whitworth, 2016). Rather than shrinking, the role of the state has been reimagined (Davies, 2017).…”