The making of a claiming class: the neglect of agency in analyses of the welfare state
- 1 December 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Critical Social Policy
- Vol. 5 (15) , 62-74
- https://doi.org/10.1177/026101838500501504
Abstract
This paper criticises the emerging marxist school within social administra tion for leaning too heavily upon structuralism and ignoring the activity of the working class in the development of the welfare state. It is argued that we need to focus upon the actual making of welfare in a socio-historical context and the considerabte impact that a divided working class has had on thisprocm. As an example the nineteenth century development of the Poor Law and friendly societies are examined in relation to the labour aristocracy and the undeserving poor. The paper argues that the neglect of agency and of intra-class divisions may blaker marxism to important contemporary developmentsin the social division for welfare.Keywords
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