Introduction
Daly and Yeates (2002) examine the origins, development and trajectory of social security in Ireland and Britain, comparatively. The article begins by looking at their common origins in the form of a shared colonial history. The article explores “structural, political and ideological factors” and how they impact on the “principles, institutional features and political characteristics” (Daly and Yeates, 2002, p. 1) that have set both countries on different trajectories. I will explore the factors that have been addressed by Daly and Yeates including The Poor Laws, The Beveridge Report, current development and their trajectories. I will also explore other factors such as Fabianism, Keynesian economics, the Second World War and changes in Governments and economies as I believe it is important to analyse social security within the larger context of society.
Origins
The article states Ireland and Britain have a social security system “that was once almost identical” (Daly and Yeates, 2002, p. 87). The Poor Laws are taken to be the major influence of social security in both countries. The Poor Laws distinguished between the ‘undeserving’ and the ‘deserving poor’ who were the elderly, the very young and the sick. This laissez-faire approach was intended to promote individualism and self-responsibility (Considine and Dukeloe, 2009). Nevertheless, in Ireland, the depth of poverty was immense and lack of resources an opportunities meant that the people were “in permanent want” (Kiely, G. O’Donnell, A. Kennedy, P. Quin, S. 1999, p. 13). Britain has a long history of support dating back to the Elizabethan Poor Laws of 1601, “the provision of which did not apply to Ireland” (Kiely et al., 1999, p. 1). The Poor Law in Britain included outdoor relief, which was relief in the community but this wasn’t introduced in Ireland until the famine of 1845 when the British State
The history of welfare systems dates back to ancient China and Rome, some of the first institutions known to have established some form of a welfare system. In both of these nations, their governments created projects to provide food and aid to poor, unemployed, or unable families and individuals, however these were based on “moral responsibility.” Later in history, in 1500’s England, parliament passed laws that held the monarchy responsible for providing assistance to needy families by providing jobs and financial aid. These became known as “poor laws” (Issitt).
This mini-paper will discuss the social welfare system. The mini-paper includes a discussion of welfare Policy, residual and institutional approach, and what is Social Welfare and Social Security. Midgely, (2009), pointed out that social welfare systems deliver services that facilitate and empower our society, especially to those persons who require assistance in meeting their basic human needs. The goal of social welfare is to provide social services to citizens from diverse cultures, and examples include Medicare, Medicaid, and food benefits. Midgley,( 2009).
Throughout the 20th century governmental responsibility has made remarkable progress. One major milestone of the widening of the responsibility of the federal government was it’s making an obligation to care for the elderly and retired in the form of social security. In 1935, the Social Security Act was enacted by the federal government to provide financial security to the elderly, retired citizens in America. Although the federal government first took on this responsibility in 1935, it is still affecting our lives today. However, social security would not have advanced this far without many organizations and individual reformers to begin and improve social security throughout history.
So what is social policy? David Gill is often regarded as one of the most authoritive authors on the subject (1973 cited by Lavalette and Pratt 1997). For Gill it was “the analysis of access to life-enhancing and life-sustaining resources” In his book 'Social Policy' (Titmuss, 1974) Timuss suggested that 'policy' is action-orientated and proble...
Blau, J. (2004). The dynamics of social welfare policy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Driscoll, S., & Konczal, E. (2009). Social Security: Guide to Critical Analysis. Points of View:
During the mid 1840’s, blight in the potato crops in Ireland caused widespread starvation and migration of Irish citizens to the United States. Yet, the massive loss of life and massive exodus could have been avoided if British taxation upon the working class of Ireland was nullified. Though the struggle for liberation was already taking place, the potato famine furthered the cause and helped spread awareness. Furthermore, the potato famine made the average Irish family more reliant upon the government for subsidies and supports to get by.
Davis, Kennith. “The Birth of Social Security.” In Visions of America’s Past, edited by William
Before the social security act of 1935 the support of the elderly was a “state matter”, the state held the power to regulate money that was given to the people. The elderly and physically disabled had to rely on their sates to implement programs to help them financially and most states during the great depression didn’t see this problem as a necessity. The Roosevelt administration caught this and created social security on a national level. “The social security act of 1935, an act which sought to provide general welfare by establishing a system of federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several states to make more adequate provisions” (SSA). The key word in the quote is “federal old age benefits” which means the...
Welfare for the poor means minimal support, degrading, humiliation and continued poverty. On the other hand, welfare for the non-poor provides security and are based on legitimacy. The welfare system does not distribute benefits on the base of need but rather on the basis of legitimacy. Poor people are often view as less legitimate as compare to the non-poor. Furthermore, welfare programs for the poor are labeled and can be seen as disgraceful. As stated in the article there is much degradation and humiliations involved in some poor people’s programs that some try greatly to stay off welfare. Some who are qualified for the programs do not take it due to negative indignity and shame that comes along with it. In comparison to welfare programs for the non-poor much protective language is taken to cover up and camouflaged the wording of the programs. Another, important difference between welfare for the poor and welfare for the non-poor are level of government involved. Welfare programs for the non-poor are federally financed and administered with decisions on eligibility and on levels of support made nationally. Programs for the poor are usually supported by federal funds and administered as local programs. I asked my boyfriend what his thoughts were on social security and welfare he responded that they were two completely different programs .He stated
Social work has existed in many different variations since the beginning of society. Initially, in the preindustrial society, minus a few exceptions, those who couldn’t cope on their own were the sole responsibility of family members. Upon the development of the industrial revolution in the Nineteenth Century, formal social work services emerged to enable society to cope with the major changes in the social system, due to modernity, urbanization, and industrialization. These services grew significantly and were reformed repeatedly throughout the rest of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries until the United Kingdom became a Welfare State, in which the state took on the responsibility to “protect the health and well-being of its citizens” (Oxford Dictionary, n.d.). Moreover, social work exists to serve the vulnerable people in the community including, the elderly, the youth, the mentally ill, the homeless, and the poor, along with many others. Although all vulnerable peoples are of equal importance in social works
Poverty has struck Ireland in 1845, which affected almost every single individual living within the country in many different ways. Many people in this era did not have much access to food or even money to live life. In chapter two of the novel, “Transatlantic”, McCann discusses the effects of poverty in Ireland. In the article, “Great Famine”, talks about how people were affected by famine and the exportation of goods. The novel displays different events that convey the tragedies of people living with poverty in 1845, but McCann did not go into depth on how it all started or what really was going on, which the article, “Great Famine”, successfully does.
Social Security began during the first term of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's, as a gauge to apply "social insurance" during the 1930’s Great Depression, when poverty rates of senior citizens exceeded that of 50 percent. The Act was an effort to constraint unexpected and unsuspecting danger in the present life: including old age, disability, poverty, unemployment, and the burden of widowers with and lacking children. President Roosevelt’s opponents however acknowledged that the Act was that of socialism.
The birth of the social security program started as a measurement to implement “social insurance” during the great depression of the 1930s, when the New York stock exchange crash in 1929 America then slipped into economic depression with unemployment exceeded 25% so president Roosevelt’s sign the social security act to help the poverty rates among the senior citizen which exceeded 50%, since then social security has became increasingly controversial.
During the twentieth century, Ireland was suffering through a time of economic hardship. “Economic growth was stagnant, unemployment was at a historic high and exceeded anywhere in the EU, except possibly Spain, and the state was one of the most indebted in the world” . Irish men and women who had received a formal education had immigrated to other nations due to the unavailability of jobs at home. This left Ireland in a state of further economic downfall, and the lack of skilled workers left Ireland stuck. The 1990’s were a turning point for Ireland. A rise in industry within the nation, as well as an increase in exports, led Ireland to become the “shining nation” in Europe. It became internationally linked with one of the biggest power nations, the United States, and international trade became Ireland’s new source for a booming economy. This brought the rise of what was known as the Celtic Tiger in Ireland.