Social Policy Definitions
“Social policy is all about social purposes and the choices between them. The choices and the conflicts between them have continuously to be made at the government level, the community level and the individual level. At each level by acting or not acting, by opting in or contracting out, we can influence the direction in which choices are made” Richard Titmuss, 1974 (as cited in Heinonen & Spearman, 2001, p. 76).
“… social policy endeavours to affect the nature of the quality of life of Canadians. It creates conditions which are intended to increase the welfare of Canadians, insure just treatment of individuals, provide resources to those who, due to an inability to earn income, are unable to meet their own needs, and reduce or, if possible, eliminate social inequalities through redistribution. Social policy in its broadest dimensions encompasses many areas: social welfare, health care, justice and corrections, culture, broadcasting and the arts, and native people, to name a few” (Rice,1979, p. 106).
“Social policy is a broad term encompassing not only social welfare but other activities of government affecting social life. Marriage and divorce legislation and support to culture and the arts are examples of social policy that lie beyond the field of social welfare. The term is also linked with ‘economic policy’. In this sense, it usually contrasts a concern for people with a concern for economic issues and growth. Shakar Yelaja identifies four key assumptions implicit in social policy. (1) The government has responsibility to meet the needs of the less fortunate members of society. (2) The state has a right to intervene in areas of individual freedom and economic liberty. (3) Governmental and/or public intervention is necessary when existing social institutions fail to fulfil their obligations. (4) Public policies create social impacts, the consequences of which become the moral obligation of some group to act upon” (Armitage, 1988, p. 266).
“Many of the most expensive functions carried out by the state in advanced capitalist societies are associated with social policy. These functions include public education, health-care services, publicly subsidized housing, and the provision of various forms of income support to such segments of the population as the unemployed, the aged, and the disabled. Together they comprise that dimension of state activity conventionally labelled the welfare state. The welfare state is generally understood to encompass state interference with the operation of market forces in order to protect or promote the material well-being of individuals, families or groups on grounds of fairness, compassion, or justice . … “Social policy is essentially a response to inequality. Indeed, the cornerstone of the welfare state is payments made to individuals and families in financial need. Their need may be temporary, related to fluctuations in the economy, to declining demand for their particular skills, or to a stage in an individual’s life cycle (e.g., maternity leave, retirement). Or their need may be chronic, as in the case of those whose employment incomes are insufficient to maintain what the state has determined to be a socially acceptable standard of living. These payments are usually assumed to be redistributive- transferring money from those who can afford to pay to those who are in need” (Brooks, 1998, pp. 120 & 125).
“Canadian authors have tended to emphasize a broader definition of social policy, though a few have taken a midpoint in the spectrum. Yelaja (1987) for instance, offers this definition: ‘Social policy is concerned with the public administration of welfare services, that is, the formulation, development and management of specific services of government at all levels, such as health, education, income maintenance and welfare services'(2). In the same vein, Brooks (1993) says: ‘Many of the most expensive activities carried out by the state in advanced capitalist societies are associated with the area of public policy. These funcions include public education, health care, publicly subsidized housing, and the provision of various forms of income support to such segments of the population as the unemployed the aged, and the disabled’ (184). At the opposite end of the spectrum… McGilly (1990) suggests: ‘The least misleading simplification of social policy is to define it as society’s struggle to keep up with the consequences of advancing industrialization’ (12). This broader definition, which recognizes the unequivocal linkage between social policy and economic policy is reflected in the writing of Canadian social workers such as Alan Moscovitch (1981, 1991), Glenn Drover (1981), Ken Collier (1995), Andrew Armitage (1988), Graham Riches and Gord Ternowetsky (1990), Frank Tester (1991, 1992), and Ernie Lightman (1991). As we have unmistakenly shifted into a global economy over the past twenty years, it has become clear that social policy can no longer be discussed in a meaningful way without understanding the economic context of policy decisions” (Westhues, 1999, p. 238).
Frameworks for the application of Social Policy:
Roeher Institute
“At the centre of the framework for achieving well-being in Canada… are the aims of self-determination, democratization and equality. If this framework is to address the challenges facing Canadian society, it must account for the interdependence of individual, community and societal well-being. Individual well-being cannot be promoted without enabling the development of community capacities and the institutional structures to support it. A framework for achieving well-being in society must take account on this interdependence and ensure that the necessary conditions are established for individuals, communities and society to thrive” (1993, p. 42).
The Premier’s Council, Ontario Beyond Tomorrow: Building a Sustainable Society, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 1995
“What were once considered three “solitudes” – the economy, social well-being and the environment – are now recognized for the extent to which they overlap…” (pp.16,17).
“The greater the overlap, the higher the potential for achieving a sustainable society…” (p.19)
The circles provide a useful graphic depiction of the territory explored by public policy in general, and social policy in particular. The principal focus of this web site lies within the orbit of “Social Well-being”. But social well-being does not exist in a vacuum; it is influenced by environmental and economic conditions. A polluted environment is neither efficient, nor good for human beings. A failing market produces social conditions of high risk and human suffering.
Social Policy is concerned, therefore, with overlapping spheres of interest, such as “Social Equity” (where economic vitality and social well-being are addressed simultaneously), and “Community Livability” (where interests of environmental quality and social well-being coincide). Emphasis upon common values, in all three spheres, coalesce in the realization of policies that promote a “Just and Sustainable Society”.
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Three Pillars of Social Policy:
The Income Security System- “The income security system includes those programs intended to protect or supplement the incomes of individuals and families. Some of these involve direct money transfers to those who meet specified criteria of eligibility. Old Age Security (OAS) payments, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), employment insurance (EI) benefits, and social assistance are examples of these. Others involve benefits received through the tax system, such as Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) deductions and marital, child, and age exemptions” (Brooks, 1998, p. 127-128).
The Health-Care System- “The health-care system illustrates as well as any area of social policy the way in which government’s response to popular demands is contained within the ideological limits of capitalist society. Starting in Saskatchewan during the late 1940’s, health services have become \’91democratized’. The private fee-for-service system has been replaced by one where most services are paid by the state. Universal access, where a person’s ability to consume medical services is not dependent on income, has emerged as a major principle of health policy. The five principles specifically mentioned in the Canada Health Act include portability…, comprehensiveness…, universality, public-funding, and public administration” (Brooks, 1998, p. 138).
Redistribution: Class and Regional Dimensions- “It is widely assumed that the welfare state involves some significant redistribution of income from those who can afford to pay to those who are in need. This redistributive function is often assumed to take place through the tax system, particularly through progressive income taxation. On the income expenditure side, income security programs are believed to comprise a social safety net that provides greater benefits to the poor than those who are well off” (Brooks, 1998, p. 144).
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Further Sources:
International Development Research Council. (2000). Renovating the concept of social policy.
Overseas Development Institute. (05/00). Can there be a global standard for social policy? The ‘social policy principles’ as a test case.
Wolf, R. (2000). Definition of policy analysis. Voluntary Sector Public Policy Toolbox.
Constitutional and Jurisdictional Issues:
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Social Union Framework Agreement
Democratic Reforms
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