Farnsworth, Kevin orcid.org/0000-0001-8018-0096 and Irving, Zoe Margaret orcid.org/0000-0001-5014-0261 (2024) Crises of the welfare state, resilience, and pessimism of the intellect. Social Policy and Administration. ISSN 1467-9515
Abstract
The crises faced by welfare states have now endured for significantly longer than the counter-period of stability, calm and cooperation between the 1940s and 1970s. Systemic crisis of welfare states tied to the contradictions of capitalism, and the exogenous crises for the welfare state that have afflicted its expansion have, however, been met by faith in its resilience evidenced in its economic functions and popularity. We question the basis for optimism by examining the ‘state of the welfare state’ in the context of the social goals envisaged in the 1940s and the extent to which these are evidenced in contemporary social policy arrangements. We present a case for more ‘pessimism of the intellect’ in assessing welfare futures to better underpin welfare state scholars’ tendency towards ‘optimism of the will’.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Authors. |
Keywords: | resilience,welfare state crisis,welfare pessimism |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > Social Policy and Social Work (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 22 Dec 2023 09:00 |
Last Modified: | 08 Feb 2025 00:52 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12996 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/spol.12996 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:206896 |
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Description: Soc Policy Adm - 2024 - Farnsworth - Crises of the welfare state resilience and pessimism of the intellect
Licence: CC-BY-NC-ND 2.5