Social Policy, Social Justice and Family Therapy

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Scott ◽  
Gerry Mooney

Drawing on current debates in social policy, this paper considers the extent to which social justice has and is informing social policy making in devolved Scotland. Relating to the work of social justice theorists Young, Fraser and Lister in particular, it critically examines some key Scottish social policy measures since 1999, considering some of the ways in which these have been constructed in terms of social justice and which make claims to the Scottish national. Through a focus on the issue of anti-poverty policies, the paper explores the ways in which the dominant policy approaches of the Scottish Government have reflected an uneven and tension-loaded balance between the enduring legacies of Scottish social democracy and the influences of neoliberal economics.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 600-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Sealey

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to rationalise the continued conceptual utility of social exclusion, and in so doing addresses the prevailing question of what to do with it. This is relevant from social exclusion’s declining relevance in contemporary UK social policy and academia, where its consideration as a concept to explain disadvantage is being usurped by other concepts, both old and new. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses criticisms of limitations of social exclusion which have typically centred on the operationalisation of the concept, but the author will argue that there are distinctive operationalisation and conceptual strengths within social exclusion which make it value-added as a concept to explain disadvantage. Specifically, there will be an analysis of both New Labour’s and the present Coalition government’s conceptualisation of the term in policy in relation to work. Findings – The analysis highlights the significant difference that a focus on processes rather than outcomes of social exclusion can make to our understanding of inequality and social injustice, and locates this difference within an argument that social exclusion’s true applied capabilities for social justice requires a shift to a conceptualisation built on the processes that cause it in the first place. Originality/value – The paper acts as a rejoinder to prevailing theoretical and political thinking of the limited and diminishing value of social exclusion for tackling disadvantage. In particular, the paper shows how social exclusion can be conceptualised to provide a critical approach to tackling inequality and social injustice, and in doing so foregrounds the truly applied capabilities of social exclusion for transforming social justice.


Vestnik NSUEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 71-85
Author(s):  
A. I. Gretchenko ◽  
N. A. Kaverina

The article discusses the principles of social justice in time and space. The emphasis is on transforming the understanding of social justice in Russia’s social policy. Currently, the principle of social justice is implemented by the state in programs for the preservation and development of human capital. The national project «Human Capital» is focused on improving the level and quality of life of citizens, the accessibility of material and social capital, creating opportunities for self-realization and disclosing the talent of each person, and developing a system of social elevators. The authors analyze the change in perception of social justice in Russia for a long time. It is noted that at the beginning of the Soviet period the concept of «social justice» was practically not used. The term «justice» appeared in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia only in 1953, which is currently one of the most popular in public policy. Combining the economy with politics, social policy determines the direction of the main political forces and trends in the Russian Federation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Koehler

The UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development impresses with its ambition of transformation, and because it has succeeded in marrying economic, social and environmental goals. This article looks at two interrelated questions. It asks whether and to what extent the Agenda's goals are transformative, but finds numerous omissions and clashes. It also seeks to examine whether the Agenda refers to eco-social policy. Two schools of thought are examined. Both critical theory and sufficiency economics propose shifts in norms, policies and practice – and argue for a “hierarchy reversal”, whereby social and climate justice goals override the economic rationale. The article concludes with a case for instrumentalising the commitments of the 2030 Agenda, but complemented by a subversive approach – injecting radical thinking and action for economic, environmental and social justice. Whether this could succeed in light of political constellations is open, and requires an idealistic faith in the power of ideas.


1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-37
Author(s):  
Graham Riches

The other day an economist friend told me that in Brisbane and commercial centres to the south, when discussion turned to financial and business considerations in the North, the key question asked was how to grow North Queensland? This market driven and profit seeking way in which southern entrepreneurs regard the beautiful and fragile environment in the north of this State, and its exploitation, was cause for concern but did not come as a surprise. After all, economic growth and international competitiveness is publicly endorsed by leading politicians and the captains of industry alike as the key to both material well being and social justice. Indeed it is central to today's conventional wisdom. Yet this belief must be challenged if there is to be creative discussion about social policy today.


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