Social Policy

This book examines the challenges facing welfare states, including inequalities and the impact of activism. Social Policy provides crucial insights for understanding future social policy complexities.

Welfare states are currently navigating profound challenges, with widening economic and social inequalities exacerbated by austerity measures. The rise of ethno-nationalism and the COVID-19 pandemic have further exposed these issues. In parallel, there has been a resurgence of social justice activism at local and transnational levels. However, the transformative potential of feminist, anti-racist, and postcolonial/decolonial perspectives has largely been sidelined in mainstream social policy theory, while other critical approaches—such as those addressing disability, sexuality, migration, age, and the environment—have only gained selective recognition.

Social Policy offers a comprehensive analysis of this intricate landscape by synthesizing critical social policy approaches with intersectionality and political economy. Fiona Williams situates contemporary social policies within the broader context of the global crisis of finance capitalism, as well as the interconnected crises related to care, ecology, and racialized borders. These elements interact with and shape national dynamics concerning family, nation, work, and nature. Through a critical exploration of these realities, the book investigates the ethical, prefigurative, and transformative possibilities for a future welfare commons.

This important intervention is set to invigorate social policy discourse, education, and research. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to grasp the complexities of social policy in the coming years, providing insights that are crucial for understanding the evolving landscape of welfare states.