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Flashcards in Social Policy Deck (14)
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1
Q

Which theories/perspectives believe sociological research can and should influence social policy?

A

Liberal Feminism

New Right

Functionalism

Social democratic

2
Q

Which theory believes that social policy should take a cautious approach, changing things gradually so a state of anomie is stopped from developing?

A

Functionalism

3
Q

Which theory/perspective believes that the capitalist system needs to be regulated to stop it creating extreme wealth and income inequality?

A

Social democratic approach

4
Q

When was the social democratic approach most influential?

A

post war (1940s-60s)

5
Q

What did Townsend (1979) believe?

A

Townsend researched relative poverty and believed the state should spend more money on state health and education services

6
Q

What is the Black report (1980)?

A

A study on class inequality- it made 37 policy recommendations to reduce inequality (e.g free school meals and more spending on housing)

7
Q

Why did the Thatcher government refuse to implement the advice given in the Black report?

A

It was refused on the grounds of cost

8
Q

What do Marxists think about social policies?

A

They believe that the capitalist state and its policies do not benefit all of society- they just serve the interests of capitalism

9
Q

According to Marxism, how does social policy serve the interests of capitalism?

A
  1. It legitimises capitalism (making it seem fair and hiding the true levels of exploitation)
  2. Maintaining the labour force (reserve army of labour)
  3. It helps to prevent a revolution
10
Q

Which family type do feminists argue social policy tries to encourage?

A

Nuclear family

11
Q

What does the New Right perspective believe social policy should aim to do?

A

It should aim to make people more independent and want to look after themselves and their own families, rather than rely on the state.

12
Q

What other factors influence social policy?

A

electoral popularity

Ideological preferences of the government

cost

reputation of the sociological theory/perspective

13
Q

Which theory/perspective was most influential during the conservative government in 1979-1997

A

New Right

14
Q

Which theories/perspectives were most influential during the New Labour government (1997-2010) and the current government?

A

New Right, social democratic (third way) and feminism