Abstract
The British ‘welfare state’ has been transformed. ‘Welfare’ has been replaced by a new ‘workfare’ regime (the ‘Work Programme’) defined by tougher state regulatory practices for those receiving out-of-work benefits. US-style mandatory community work programmes are being revived and expanded. This article, therefore, considers shifting public attitudes to work and welfare in Britain and changing attitudes to working-age welfare and out-of-work benefits in particular. It also considers the extent to which recent transformations of the state may be explained by declines in traditional labourist politics and class-based solidarity. Thus, we attempt to develop a richer understanding of changing public attitudes towards welfare and the punitive regulatory ‘workfare’ practices engaged by the modern state in the liberal market economy; reflecting on the nature of the relations between ideology, party policies, popular attitudes and their political impact.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 862–886 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | Social Policy and Administration |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 7 |
Early online date | 24 Sept 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2015 |
Keywords
- workfare
- welfare state
- social class
- political parties
- social attitudes
- public opinion