Social Policy in a Development Context: (Social Policy in a Development Context Series)

After two decades of exclusive focus on stabilization, policy-making in developing countries has begun to shift its focus to issues of social and economic development, poverty eradication and equity. This is occurring at a time when the consolidation of democracy is a concern in many countries. There is a growing realization that social policy can provide the crucial link among these various demands on policy-making. However, to perform this role there is need for a major rethinking of social policy in developing countries so that it not only meets goals of intrinsic value but also serves as a major policy instrument in development. The book's central message is that social policy can be a major transformative contribution to economic development. The contributors argue that social policy should be closely intertwined with economic policy and not treated as a mere afterthought. Collectively the papers draw on both conceptual and empirical evidence to argue the case for the centrality of social policy in development. The book is a major contribution to thinking about social policy and sets out an agenda for future research in this field.

Table of Contents:
List of Tables List of Figures Notes on the Contributors Social Policy in a Development Context: Introduction; T.Mkandawire PART I: CONCEPTUAL ISSUES From Universalism to Safety Nets: The Rise and Fall of Keynesian Influence on Social Development; P.Townsend Social Policy and Macroeconomic Performance: Integrating "the Economic" and "the Social"; D.Elson Social Policy and Development: Social Capital as Point of Departure; B.Fine Democratization and Social Policy; L.Whitehead PART II: MICRO AND MESO-LEVEL ISSUES Why Social Policy is Condemned to a Residual Category of Safety Nets and What to do About It; J.Tendler Inequality and Redistribution in Health Care: Analytical Issues for Developmental Social Policy; M.Mackintosh & P.Tibandebage Models of Development, Social Policy and Reform in Latin America; C.Mesa-Lago PART III: HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES European 'Late Industrializers': The Finnish Experience; J.Vartiainen 'Late Industrializers' and the Development of the Welfare State; C.Pierson The Role of Social Policy in Economic Development: Some Theoretical Reflections And Lessons From East Asia; H-J.Chang The Economic Crisis and the Politics of Welfare Reform in Korea; H-J.Kwon Social Policy in Indian Development; J.Ghosh Historical Trajectories of Social Policy in Post-Colonial Africa. The Case of Zambia; G.Mhone Index

About the Author :
THANDIKA MKANADAWIRE is the Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). Previously he was Executive Secretary of the Council for the Development of Social Research in Africa. Mr Mkandawire has written a number of publications on issues such as structural adjustment, development and democratisation in Africa.

Review :
'This important collection challenges the widely accepted dichotomy between economic and social policy, questioning many of the assumptions that inform social policy today. It shows that current preoccupations with individual choice and efficiency can lead to a neglect of more fundamental issues of social protection and resource redistribution. I hope that the book is read extensively by policy-makers as well as academics.' - Frances Stewart, Professor of Development Economics, University of Oxford, UK 'Thandika Mkandawire is to be congratulated on demonstrating the case for development studies scholars to take social policy analysis seriously. This is a path-breaking volume packed with excellent theoretical pieces and comparative case studies that should contribute to the re-emergence of inclusive and equitable social development policies.' - Bob Deacon, Global Social Policy 'Thandika Mkandawire is to be congratulated on pulling together an important collection of original papers on the topic of social policy and development. The contributors to this volume address many diverse aspects of social policy and its relationship to economic development. The book builds on the growing literature on the subject and will be essential reading for anyone working in this challenging field. It makes an important contribution.'- James Midgley, Harry and Riva Specht Professor of Public Social Services and Dean, School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley, USA 'This well edited volume is a must for all concerned with development issues. It demonstrates clearly that the social safety net policy thinking, which has marked mainstream development policies over the last two decades, did not deliver the expected results, indicates also why this thinking was conceptually wrong and provides highly relevant alternative policy solutions. Development students and practitioners would benefit highly from it.' - Rolph van der Hoeven, Manager Technical Secretariat, World Commission Social Dimension of Globalization, ILO