An Introduction to Social Policy
Social policy is about crafting public policy that is conducive to human well-being. Such areas as health care and education are among the areas addressed by social policy. In many schools of political science or public policy, social policy is a specialized field of study. It also is one of the most contentious areas of politics.
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Identification
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Social policy refers to government policies and practices related to areas of societal well-being. This separates social policy from foreign policy, which pertains to a nation's relations with other countries, and economic policy, which relates to the management of national economic affairs.
Types
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Issues covered by social policy include, but are not limited to, health care, education, welfare, criminal justice, and civil rights. Other areas of social policy include such controversial matters as abortion and affirmative action.
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History
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The late Professor Richard M. Titmuss (1907-1973) of the London School of Economics is often credited with establishing social policy as a field of study. During his lifetime, Titmuss was concerned with issues of social justice.
Function
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The general aim of social policy is to enhance the overall well-being of society by meeting human needs for education, medical care, housing and other benefits.
Conservative Views
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Conservative and liberal ideologies differ sharply on areas of social policy. Conservatives believe government social policy fosters attitudes of dependency and entitlement. They believe social policy is better handled by non-governmental organizations, such as churches and charities.
Liberal Perspective
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Liberals contend that social policy benefits society as a whole by addressing issues of social inequality and attempting to ameliorate the effects of historical injustices. In this view, social policy strives to ensure equal treatment for all people, regardless of ethnicity or social class.
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