Welfare States and Social Movements: Development and Impact

Posted on Dec 24, 2024 in Social sciences

Welfare provision has become a central function of the modern state. There has been a significant expansion of financial, organizational, and human resources dedicated to welfare services. Welfare provision legitimizes state power and political authority.

The Relationship Between Capitalism and the Welfare State

Neo-Marxist Theory (Offe, O’Connor): The state must ensure the reproduction of the capitalist system while maintaining political legitimacy with the working class.

The Dilemma:

  • Decommodification (providing welfare independent of the market) can undermine capitalism.
  • Rejecting decommodification leads to a loss of political legitimacy and social disintegration.

International Comparison of Welfare Spending

Comparison of OECD countries’ welfare spending:

  • As a percentage of GDP.
  • As a share of total government expenditure.

Esping-Andersen’s Theory of Welfare State Regimes

  • Liberal Regime: Minimal welfare benefits, means-tested assistance, low decommodification (e.g., USA).
  • Conservative (Corporatist) Regime: Welfare benefits tied to occupational status, preserving social stratification (e.g., Germany, Italy).
  • Social Democratic Regime: Universal social rights, high decommodification, state-led solidarity (e.g., Sweden, Norway).

Political Explanations for the Development of Welfare States

Power Resource Theory

The working class power (e.g., trade unions, left-wing parties) is decisive in shaping welfare systems.

Key factors (Castles, Korpi, Esping-Andersen, Palme):

  • Class formation: Position, class consciousness, and alliances.
  • Organizational resources: Labor unions, cooperatives, and social movements.
  • Political resources: Success of left-wing parties.
  • Class alliances: Workers allied with peasants or middle classes.

Electoral Politics

  • Development of welfare states:

    • Universal suffrage enables the “democratic class struggle” (Korpi).
    • Competition between political parties for votes (Aspalter).
    • Voter reactions to inequality (Meltzer and Richard).

  • Underdevelopment of welfare states:

    • Democratically elected elites blocking social policies (Stepan, Linz).
    • Inequality in political participation due to socioeconomic gaps (Verba).
    • Manipulation of public perception (Bartels).

Political Institutions

  • Impact of electoral systems: Proportional vs. majoritarian systems (Iversen, Soskice); Parliamentary vs. presidential systems (Linz).
  • State Autonomy: Competence of state bureaucracies and their electoral influence (Skocpol, Amenta).
  • Path Dependency: Institutional feedback effects (Pierson); Long-term continuity and critical junctures.

Party Traditions

National variations in political traditions and welfare discourses:

  • Continuity of social policy patterns.
  • National differences in welfare discourses and ideologies (Schmidt, Berman).

Politics-Society Relationship

Policy Responsiveness Theories: Democratic regimes rely on responsiveness between public opinion and policies (Brooks, Jacobs). Preferences are influenced by historical and structural factors (class, religion, education).

Cultural Foundations and Public Attitudes: National differences in attitudes toward welfare systems. Cultural foundations shape public opinion and political decisions (van Oorschot, Pfau-Effinger).

Influence of Social Movements on Policy

  • Social movements act as tools for those lacking institutional power (Tilly).
  • Theoretical Approaches:
    • Resource Mobilization Theory: Importance of consensus and support from institutional centers (McCarthy, Zald).
    • Political Process Model: Organized challenges against institutional elites (Piven, Cloward).
    • Political Mediation Model: Fit between movement strategies and political environments (Amenta).

McCarthy & Zald (1977): A set of beliefs and opinions aimed at changing social structures or distribution of rewards.

Blumer (1969): Collective efforts to create a new order of life, including cultural and social organization.

Goodwin & Jasper (2009): Non-institutional, sustained, organized challenges to authorities or cultural beliefs.

Tilly (2004): Contentious politics involving collective claims that conflict with others’ interests.

Characteristics and Distinctions of Social Movements

Tilly’s Three Confusions (2004):

  • Overextending the term to all collective actions.
  • Confusing movements with supporting organizations.
  • Treating a movement as a unified actor.

Specific Features of Social Movements:

  • Focused on social reform.
  • Build collective goals, norms, and identities.
  • Sustain campaigns through structured organization.

Related but Distinct Concepts

  • Collective Behavior (Blumer, 1969): Spontaneous actions like crowds, riots, and mass behavior.
  • Contentious Politics (Tilly & Tarrow, 2007): Collective action making claims on others’ interests.
  • Protest (Rucht, 1998): Non-state group activities expressing dissent.

Historical Development of Social Movements

Birth (1750-1850): Grievances expressed by ordinary people in Western Europe and North America.

Development (19th-20th Century): Formation of collective goals, leadership structures, and national expansion.

Strengthening (Mid-20th Century): Growth in sociopolitical influence through unions and cooperatives.

Modernization Processes (Tilly, 2004)

  • War Mobilization: Politicized grievances due to increased government impact.
  • Parliamentary Democracy: Shaped methods and targets of collective action.
  • Capitalism’s Growth: Gave influence to new economic actors like merchants and bankers.
  • Proletarianization: Enabled workers to engage in collective modern action.

Examples of U.S. Social Movements

  • 1930s New Deal Era:
    • Huey Long: Wealth redistribution and education subsidies.
    • Townsend Movement: Universal pensions.
    • Financial regulation and infrastructure nationalization.
    • Sinclair: Public employment and pensions.
  • 1960s-70s Turmoil: Anti-war, civil rights, women’s, and environmental movements.
  • Democratization Waves (1970s-80s):
    • Southern Europe: Spain, Portugal, Greece.
    • East Asia: South Korea, Taiwan.
    • Latin America: Argentina, Chile, Brazil.

New Trends in 21st-Century Movements

  • Digital Activism: Use of online platforms for organization and action.
  • Youth-Driven Labor Movements: Focused on precarious working conditions.
  • Global Movements: Examples include #MeToo and right-wing populist movements.

Foundations of Social Movement Research

Distinction Between Bases and Actions (Tilly, 2004):

  • Bases: Organizations, networks, cultural artifacts.
  • Actions: Coordinated campaigns challenging power holders.

Key Research Topics: Grievances, recruitment, political dynamics, and shared identities.

Paradigms in Social Movement Research

  • Social-Psychological Approaches: Crowd behavior, relative deprivation, J-curve theories.
  • Rationality Paradigm: Resource mobilization, political processes, and framing strategies.
  • Alternative Paradigms: Collective identities, new social movements, and emotional dynamics.