Social policy and poverty: an introduction¹

Abstract

Hujo K, Gaia E. Social policy and poverty: an introduction Int J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: 230–239 © 2011 United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), International Journal of Social Welfare © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and International Journal of Social Welfare. This Guest Editorial introduces the context and main themes around which this collection of articles on social policy and poverty is framed. Against the backdrop of calls for accelerated progress towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in a context of multiple crises, the role of social policy for social development and poverty reduction is highlighted. Three key themes are addressed by the five contributions in the collection: (1) the role of social protection, in particular cash transfers, in poverty reduction; (2) the importance of labour markets and labour market policies for poverty reduction; and (3) the financing of welfare policies. The guest editors conclude that social protection policies should be grounded in values of social justice and human rights, which calls for strong state commitment towards universal programmes. They further point to the need of institutionalising long‐term social policies that benefit from broad‐based political support and are grounded in sustainable financing mechanisms.

Families with young children in times of economic downturn: Implications for social work practice

“…Critical voices thus plea for caution since the practice of parenting risks being seen independently from the broader social, economic and political circumstances in which parents live, work and raise their children (Clarke, ; Featherstone, ; Lister, ; Mitchell & Campbell, ), and the inherently complex, uncertain and ambiguous nature of social problems risks being overlooked (Lorenz, ; Parton, ; Schiettecat, Roets, & Vandenbroeck, ). Moreover, as stated in a recent article in the International Journal of Social Welfare (Hujo & Gaia, , p. 230), ‘we observe increasing inequalities in and between countries, (…) and an increase in precarious and informal employment’, due to the dominance of neoliberal growth models in policy responses.…”

“…Moreover, being hindered on one life domain has consequences for other life domains as well. Concerning social work practice, our findings indicate that there is something to say for the current interest in greater collaboration between the services and that services should take a broader perspective into account if they are to support families in leading a life with human dignity, one in which they can flourish (Hujo & Gaia, ).…”

“…The global financial crisis that erupted in 2008 had, and still has, serious consequences for economic growth and unemployment levels worldwide (Crettaz, ; Hanan, ; Hujo & Gaia, ; Karanikolos et al, ; OECD, ). Together with other previous and ongoing profound demographic, social and economic changes since the 1980s, scholars have observed the emergence of a neoliberal social investment paradigm in several European welfare states (Anthony, King, & Austin, ; Cantillon, ; Dwyer, ; Gray, ; Hujo & Gaia, ; Lorenz, ; Schiettecat, Roets, & Vandenbroeck, ). Within this paradigm, human capital investment strategies and the objective of full labour market participation are considered as ways to ensure social justice and economic efficiency, rather than focussing on social protection and the redistribution of resources and power (Hanan, ; Pentaraki, ; van Hooren, Kaasch, & Starke, ).…”

Beyond the ‘At Risk’ Individual: Housing and the Eradication of Poverty to Prevent Homelessness

“…There is no agreement about the most effective means to reduce or eradicate poverty (Hujo and Gaia 2011). Nevertheless there are numerous Australian policies that have the consequence, both implicitly and explicitly, of reducing poverty.…”

The Dark Sides of Social Policy: From Neoliberalism to Resurgent Right‐wing Populism

“…Many people have related this idea to the variety of social and political responses that have emerged to address the ills of neoliberalism from the 1. On this conceptualization of social protection, which has become common in international organizations, see an overview by Hujo and Gaia (2011). 2.…”