Professionalism in the Welfare State: Sociological Saviour or Political Pariah?*

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Abstract
This paper addresses the emergent centrality of professionalism and professions in the society and political economy of the welfare state. For purposes of illustration, it explores the impact and effects of professionalism in the health sector, which accounts for a major share of welfare state activities; but the aim is a more general understanding of professionalism in the welfare state. After reviewing three schools of sociological theorizing about the professions, several case‐studies of health professionals are examined. Then the convergence of political science and sociology is explored for their respective disciplinary attempts to explain these trends. Finally, two proposed solutions to the problem which professionalism poses for post‐industrial democracies are discussed.

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