Social Citizenship in an Age of Welfare Regionalism: The State of the Social Union

The book explores the socio-legal developments in social protection in the UK,including the impact of austerity,the referendum on Scottish independence,Northern Irelands hesitant moves away from parity with Westminster,Brexit,and the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines the changing character of the social union and the ideological and pragmatic considerations driving legal developments,using TH Marshalls theory of citizenship as a lens.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Since its inception in 1998, devolution has brought about significant changes to the UK welfare state, particularly in the last decade since 2010. A period of austerity at the national level has led to differing perspectives among governments in London, Edinburgh, and Belfast regarding the social rights of citizenship. This political divide has far-reaching implications for social security law, as the devolved countries begin to assert their influence in this critical area of citizens' economic well-being. Additionally, it impacts the constitutional settlement, as the devolved nations explore new avenues to protect their citizens' social welfare.

The book delves into the impact of austerity, the Scottish independence referendum, and subsequent adjustments to the devolution settlement. It also examines Northern Ireland's hesitant steps away from parity with Westminster in social protection, the withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit), and the potential shift away from austerity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The social union, while still intact, is undergoing a transformation, and the book sheds light on the ideological and pragmatic factors driving legal developments.

The theory of citizenship developed by TH Marshalls serves as a framework for analyzing these processes. However, it is also being reinterpreted in light of the national government's increasing delegation of responsibility for social rights, whether to individuals, the voluntary sector, or lower tiers of government.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive socio-legal examination of national and devolved-level developments in social protection in the UK, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of social policy and governance.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509946419