Dismantling the Welfare State?: Reagan, Thatcher and the Politics of RetrenchmentThis book offers a careful examination of the politics of social policy in an era of austerity and conservative governance. Focusing on the administrations of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, Pierson provides a compelling explanation for the welfare state's durability and for the few occasions where each government was able to achieve significant cutbacks. The programmes of the modern welfare state - the 'policy legacies' of previous governments - generally proved resistant to reform. Hemmed in by the political supports that have developed around mature social programmes, conservative opponents of the welfare state were successful only when they were able to divide the supporters of social programmes, compensate those negatively affected, or hide what they were doing from potential critics. The book will appeal to those interested in the politics of neo-conservatism as well as those concerned about the development of the modern welfare state. It will attract readers in the fields of comparative politics, public policy, and political economy. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Analytical foundations | 11 |
The politics of programmatic retrenchment | 51 |
The embattled welfare state | 129 |
Other editions - View all
Dismantling the Welfare State?: Reagan, Thatcher and the Politics of ... Paul Pierson Limited preview - 1994 |
Common terms and phrases
administration's AFDC agenda American analysis argued Britain British budget central Chapter Child Benefit Congress Congressional Congressional Quarterly conservative costs council housing cutbacks cuts deficit earnings-related economic effects electoral federal fiscal food stamps fund health-care HM Treasury Housing Benefit housing policy impact important incentives income increased initiatives interest groups labor legislation limited low-income housing major means-tested programs Medicaid Medicare ment million Norman Fowler outcomes parliamentary systems pension percent policy change policy feedback policymakers political institutions poor position poverty poverty line pressures produced programmatic retrenchment proposals public housing public policies radical reform Reagan administration Reagan and Thatcher recipients reduce retrenchment advocates retrenchment politics retrenchment strategies revenues role sector SERPS shift significant Skocpol social policy social programs Social Security spending structure subsidies substantial success systemic retrenchment targeted Thatcher government Theda Skocpol unem unemployment unions United University Press vouchers vulnerable welfare state's workfare