Western welfare states are in a period of significant transition. Changes in the nature of work and the family, the growing elderly population, and other developments over the past fifty years have rendered existing welfare policies largely out-of-step with economic and social conditions. While welfare state reform clearly raises important questions about justice and social policy, political philosophers have been slow to address it. Justice, Care, and the Welfare State takes up the important task of developing a theory of justice to guide contemporary welfare state reform. Applying normative political philosophy to public policy issues, it addresses questions such as: What role, if any, should states play in supporting families? Should the state support national health care and, if so, why and in what form? What does society owe to the elderly? What role should welfare states play in supporting disabled people? What obligations does the state have toward the poor? As distinct from many works of political philosophy, Justice, Care, and the Welfare State draws on empirical data about the populations and circumstances of existing Western societies and offers concrete policy advice for reforming welfare policies. Noting that many of the challenges confronting people in post-industrial societies involve issues of care, Engster draws on a public ethics of care to develop his theory of welfare state justice, outlining specific policy proposals in the areas of the family, education, health care, old age pensions and long-term care, disability, and poverty and unemployment. The book offers important insights into how Western welfare states can be reformed in light of recent economic and social changes in order better to promote justice. It should be of interest to political philosophers, welfare state scholars, public policy analysts, and others interested in thinking about contemporary policy reform and justice.
Les mer
This book explores contemporary welfare state reform from a moral and philosophical perspective
1. Introduction ; 2. Justice, Care, and Children ; Appendix 1 Health Care Systems ; 4. Justice, Care, and the Elderly ; 5. Justice, Care, and Disabled People ; Appendix 2 Disability Policies ; 6. Justice, Care, and the Poor ; Conclusion
Les mer
Daniel Engster provides a vigorous defense of the welfare state in this thoughtful, carefully researched book.
Provides a comprehensive account of welfare state reform Provides a detailed discussion of ideal and non-ideal theory Draws upon the rich tradition in contemporary political philosophy of theorizing about justice and applies it to a number of welfare policy areas. Highlights the relevance of care ethics in addressing contemporary policy challenges and develops a set of welfare state policy recommendations based on care ethics
Les mer
Daniel Engster is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His books include The Heart of Justice: Care Ethics and Political Theory (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007); Justice, Politics, and the Family, co-edited with Tamara Metz, (Boulder: Paradigm Publishing, 2014); and Care Ethics and Political Theory co-edited with Maurice Hamington (Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2015). He has published articles on care ethics and animal welfare, public policy and parenting, and other issues relating to care ethics, the family, and justice.
Les mer
Provides a comprehensive account of welfare state reform Provides a detailed discussion of ideal and non-ideal theory Draws upon the rich tradition in contemporary political philosophy of theorizing about justice and applies it to a number of welfare policy areas. Highlights the relevance of care ethics in addressing contemporary policy challenges and develops a set of welfare state policy recommendations based on care ethics
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780198719564
Publisert
2015
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
616 gr
Høyde
241 mm
Bredde
171 mm
Dybde
22 mm
Aldersnivå
UU, UP, P, 05, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
304

Forfatter

Biographical note

Daniel Engster is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His books include The Heart of Justice: Care Ethics and Political Theory (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007); Justice, Politics, and the Family, co-edited with Tamara Metz, (Boulder: Paradigm Publishing, 2014); and Care Ethics and Political Theory co-edited with Maurice Hamington (Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2015). He has published articles on care ethics and animal welfare, public policy and parenting, and other issues relating to care ethics, the family, and justice.