In responses to Tim's suggestion for contribution to the working party, here
are two (both based on the premise that social policy is not a discipline
but a field of study, which is why it is particularly vulnerable to changes
in the orientation of government and other agencies in meeting welfare
needs);
1. Multi-disciplinarity. Social policy is already successful in mobilising
support for investigations where contributions from a range of disciplines
are required (witness: fact that subject punches about its weight in
relation to large multi-disciplinary research projects). Important to
ensure that links with other multi-disciplinary activities in our area are
strengthened. Most prominent example is criminology, currently located
between sociology, social policy and law. As society prioritises regulatory
interventions for the poor (witness: rising prison pop.), useful to stress
links between social policy and criminal justice. Concrete suggestions:
special issues of JSP and SPS on Criminal Justice Policy, SPA conference
theme in this field.
2. Relationship between social policy and disciplines - traditionally
sociology has been the closest discipline (witness RAE), but, as government
starts to pay more attention to issues such as the contribution to
international competitiveness, work-force mobilisation etc in its social
policy measures, should disciplines like economics be given greater
prominence? Similarly political science is highly relevant to understanding
the issues surrounding electoral attractiveness that hedge policy-making.
More attention to these issues will enable us to capitalise on our
international strengths (UK social policy is influential internationally
because we are one of the few countries where the subject exists), and to
pursue reseach support in contexts where other disciplines have been looked
to provide it.
Peter
Peter Taylor-Gooby
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 01227 827514
Fax: 01227 824014
Post: Darwin College, University of Kent, CT2 7NY, UK
----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Clark <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 11:28 AM
Subject: Working Party on the Future of Social Policy
> Dear Member
>
> The news that the SPA has set up a working party on the future of social
> policy is surely very welcome. The chance to directly address the
changing
> environment in which social policy finds itself provides a fantastic
window
> of opportunity for change and renewal.
>
> I thought it would be interesting and would aid the work of this group if
> we took an initial sounding of what people think to the questions the
> working party will address (see page 11 of the current SPA newsletter).
> Are the questions the right ones?, are there any questions missing? does
> anyone have suggestions as to how we could proceed?
>
> As usual I have many ideas but I think I have spoken a little too much
this
> month so I'll try to clamp my mouth shut for a change!
>
> Hope this interests you
> Tim Clark
>
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