8. Sociology and Social Policy Flashcards
Functionalist perspective on sociology and social policy: what is the role of the sociologist according to Durkheim?
To provide the state with objective, scientific information on which it can base its policies, although sociologists shouldn’t recommend what policies should be introduced
Functionalist perspective on sociology and social policy: what policies did Durkheim advocate?
Policies that help increase the amount of social solidarity (E.g. policies to encourage the nuclear family)
Functionalist perspective on sociology and social policy: functionalists underlaying view of sociology and social policy
Functionalism is a theoretical approach, identifying and explaining causes of social problems rather than giving practical solutions
New Right perspective on sociology and social policy: what political views do the New Right hold?
Political viewpoints towards the right (traditional and conservative values)
New Right perspective on sociology and social policy: where does the New Right stand on sociologists making policy recommendations?
New Right are often opposed to sociologists making policy recommendations as they believe the state should have minimal involvement with social problems
New Right perspective on sociology and social policy: Charles Murray on increasing welfare spending
Increasing welfare spending will make poverty worse as it will create a class of welfare dependency
New Right perspective on sociology and social policy: what should social policy be in support of?
Social policy should be in support of traditional values of society
New Right perspective on sociology and social policy: New Rights influence on social policy
New Right has had far greater effects on policies of the UK government than any other perspective since the 1980s
The social democratic perspective on sociology and social policy: what political ideology is it associated with?
Associated with liberal political ideology and has strong influence on left-of-centre governments
The social democratic perspective on sociology and social policy: where do social democrats stand on sociologists involvement in social policy?
Sociologists should be actively involved in making social policy recommendations as they believe they can help eradicate the social problems they identify
The social democratic perspective on sociology and social policy: what policies do they favour?
Policies that reduce social inequality in society brought about by capitalism
Policies targeting the major redistribution of wealth and income from the rich to the poor
Marxist perspective on sociology and social policy: what do social policies serve the interest of?
They serve the interests of the ruling class - those who own the means of production - rather than benefitting society as a whole
Marxist perspective on sociology and social policy: what do social policies reinforce?
Reinforce the exploitation of the w/c E.g. ideological legitimisation of capitalism, social policies help maintain labour force, and they prevent a w/c revolution
Marxist perspective on sociology and social policy: what do social policies appear to do?
They appear to benefit most of the population but actually don’t.
E.g. health and safety at work policies appear to help the workers as it gives them greater safety at work however, it majorly benefits the ruling class as it means that the workforce stays powerful
Marxist perspective on sociology and social policy: role of sociologist
To criticise and expose social policies
