Postmodernism, Welfare and Radical Politics

Bibliographic Data

ID2114015
AuthorsTony Fitzpatrick (0000-0003-3197-8389, corresponding author)
Year1996
Volume25
Issue3
Pages303-320
Publication date1996-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-2794 • E-ISSN: 1469-7823
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s004727940002362x
OpenAlexW2122473484
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited15

This article argues that postmodernist theory is something which students of social policy should neither accept uncritically nor dismiss out of hand. Firstly, the article takes issue with the responses made to postmodernist theory by Ramesh Mishra and Peter Taylor-Gooby. Secondly, it argues that the ideas loosely known as 'reflexive modernisation' constitute a more measured and critical response, though such ideas are likely to be of little use to social policy research in the absence of any reference to a left-right spectrum. Thirdly, it argues that by combining reflexive modernisation with a left-right spectrum, a decentred conception of welfare emerges which could be of value to a radical left politics. Finally, it argues for a Citizen's Income as a reform proposal which has the potential to establish such a system of decentred welfare

Critical theory · Economics · Epistemology · Law and economics · Modernization theory · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Postmodernism · Reflexivity · Social science · Sociology · Value (mathematics) · Welfare · Welfare reform · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Law · Philosophy · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Social Policy and Reform Studies

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub