Social Policy: A Critical and Intersectional Analysis

Welfare states face significant challenges due to economic and social inequalities, austerity politics, ethno-nationalism, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This book provides a new analysis of this complex landscape, drawing together critical approaches in social policy with intersectionality and political economy. It explores the ethical, prefigurative, and transformative possibilities for a future welfare commons, essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the complexities of social policy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 16 July 2021
Publisher: Polity Press

Welfare states are grappling with significant challenges that have been exacerbated by austerity politics, the rise of ethno-nationalism, and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While social justice activism has experienced a resurgence at both local and transnational levels, the transformative power of feminist, anti-racist, and postcolonial/decolonial thinking has been relatively marginalized in core social policy theory. Moreover, other critical approaches, such as those around disability, sexuality, migration, age, and the environment, have only received selective recognition.

In response to these challenges, this book offers a much-needed new analysis of the complex landscape of social policy. Drawing on critical approaches in social policy, intersectionality, and political economy, Fiona Williams contextualizes contemporary social policies within the global crises of finance capitalism, care, ecology, and racialized borders. These crises intersect and shape national scales, impacting the dynamics of family, nation, work, and nature. Through a critical assessment of these realities, the book explores the ethical, prefigurative, and transformative possibilities for a future welfare commons.

This significant intervention will animate social policy thinking, teaching, and research. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of social policy in the years to come. By integrating critical perspectives and exploring the interconnections between different social issues, this book provides valuable insights into the potential for social change and the creation of more equitable and just societies.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 154 x 227 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509540396