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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Beyond universalism and particularism
— rethinking contemporary welfare theory | | Author(s) | Nick Ellison |
| Journal title | Critical Social Policy, vol 19, no 1, 1999 |
| Pages | pp 57-86 |
| Keywords | Social welfare ; Social policy ; Theory. |
| Annotation | Current debate about the respective merits of universalist and particularist approaches to welfare suggest that contemporary welfare theory has reached an impasse. Following an examination of recent attempts to discuss the respective merits of universalist and pluralist claims, this article argues that, in an increasingly pluralist social and political environment characterised by shifting identities and solidarities, we need to embrace "difference" more forthrightly if allocations of social goods and services are to be judged legitimate by service users and providers alike. To this end, and in an effort to push beyond the universalist-particularist divide, we need to take greater account of "postmodern" understandings of contemporary social politics, not because these should be accepted entirely, but because it is important to claim their utility for decentralised, "deliberative" conceptions of social politics. Deliberative processes, particularly where accompanied by a "politics of presence" can better legitimate particularist patterns of resource distribution - paradoxically fostering greater social inclusion - in a rapidly changing world. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-990331210 A |
| Classmark | TY: TM2: 4D |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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