An Introduction to Social Policy
Written By: Moven C and Redwan M
Opening Remarks
Urban social policy is a “course or principle of action related to human wellbeing in cities and the systems that might promote or hinder it” (Allahwala, 2020, l.1). The term encompasses large amounts of content — from broad understandings of “values, programs, and policies which bring us [communities] together” (Lightman, 2003, p. 37) to more specific notions of “the means of rewarding the victims of economic growth” (Lightman, 2003, p. 37). Keywords for Urban Social Policy is a collection of mini-essays which connects several integral terms to urban social policy in order to develop a more thorough understanding of social policy itself. This collection specifically includes descriptions and analyses of the central terms.
History of Urban Social Policy
The term urban social policy can be traced back to the popularization of the welfare state — a model of government where the state protects the socioeconomic wellbeing of its citizens through (urban) social policy (Allahwala, 2020, l.4). Both terms can be traced back to the nineteenth century, where the earliest progression of social policy is seen. It can specifically be examined with the evolution of welfare states from the Bismarckian Welfare State to the New Deal to the National Health Service Act; three of the most historically impactful policy developments. In the 1880’s, Otto von Bismarck sought after a social insurance legislation, commonly referred to as the Bismarckian Welfare State which became a model that several states followed in structuring their urban social policy (Steinberg, 2013, p. 416). The principality from the Bismarckian Welfare State — namely equitable distribution of wealth — was extended unto significant social policies in different nations that were yet to come. One of those being America’s New Deal in the 1930s. Following the Great Depression, President Roosevelt promised “a new deal for the American people”, with the mandate to provide guidance towards more equitable opportunities and share in distribution of national wealth (Chase, 2007, p.117). Urban social policy specifically improved with this historical event through its newfound economic relief for the unemployed, policy recovery of the economy, and reform of the financial system (Chase, 2007, p.117). Finally, there is the example of the British Welfare State. In 1964, the National Health Service Act was passed which improved the British Welfare State by assigning it the duty to “assume greater responsibility for individual citizens … [with] social security” (Fraser, 2017, p. 2). It ensured the adequate provision of social/health services for the population. Ultimately, the common goal of all these programs was to provide resources to those in need of social assistance, which is the historical essence of urban social policy. However, needing social assistance involves multiple differing definitive and socioeconomic factors — showing the complexity of understanding urban social policy. This is further contextualized with the differences in the aforementioned policy developments. With there being so many different factors and keywords in this discipline that are important in understanding urban social policy, this project strives to thoroughly break down each relevant term to develop a complete understanding of social policy.
Model of the Project / Inspiration from New York University Press
Inspired by the Keywords Project developed by the New York University Press and Raymond Williams’ Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society, it should be made clear that this publication is not “a dictionary or glossary of a particular academic subject [urban social policy] . . . . It is rather, the record of an inquiry into a vocabulary” (Williams, 1976, p. 15). At the end of Williams’ book, he intelligently left blank pages to note that “inquiry remains open … [and he] will welcome all amendments … towards the revised edition which it is hoped will be necessary” (Williams, 1976, p. 26). Essentially, Williams’ goal was to create an open resource for future individuals to both utilize and build off of. Similarly, this project aims to be a resource for all students — inclusive of those in the future — to both utilize and construct critically upon.
By doing this, it will most effectively expand the field for urban social policy and particularly remain open to new research.
Structure of Individual Mini-Essays
The mini-essays in Keywords for Urban Social Policy go further than defining the said terms by touching upon their history, contextualization in regard to broader themes of social policy, and relating them to other ‘keywords’. This, in particular, conveys the interdependence of concepts in urban social policy. Furthermore, the intricate examinations of each term show how these concepts are broad in nature yet made more specific and clear with academic research. This results in a database of terms accessible to non-academic audiences and those who are thoroughly invested in the field of urban social policy alike.
Descriptive / Analytical / Normative Dimensions of Project
In order to holistically analyze all the dimensions of urban social policy, each of the mini-essays will touch on the descriptive, analytical, and normative dimensions of their respective terms. This means that they will explain (1) what the term and subsequent policy/concept are, (2) why the concepts embodied in these terms are relevant; providing an evaluation on the term, and (3) what ought to happen in regard to the term or surrounding policies. For instance, in Sarah Daniel’s essay on social spatial polarization, she (1) describes that socio spatial polarization is “ the condition where income is concentrated into two groups”. She then (2) analytically describes the motifs behind the concept by explaining “it allows for an increase of rich affluent neighborhoods to become wealthier and the poorest ones to stagnate”. Finally, (3) she normatively addresses that “alleviating social spatial polarization in social policy is vital to ensuring that there is full integration of society”.
Conclusion
Ultimately, this collection is a gathering of scholarship from students studying urban social policy. Urban social policy is a concept that has been relevant all the way from the 1800s to contemporary society. The mini-essays which form this volume are not simply definitive but rather comprehensive bodies of information on their theses. They touch on descriptive, analytical, and normative definitions of their respective terms to form a thorough understanding and concrete analysis of urban social policy.
Introduction Bibliography
Allahwala, A. (2020, January). Introduction to the Course. CITC07 Urban Social Policy Lecture 1. Toronto.
Allahwala, A. (2020, January). (Urban) Social Policy in Canada: Past and Present II. CITC07 Urban Social Policy Lecture 4. Toronto.
Chase, S. (2007). A New Deal. Whitefish, Montana: Kessinger Publishing.
Fraser, D. (2017). The evolution of the British welfare state: a history of social policy since the Industrial Revolution. London: Palgrave, Macmillan Education.
Lightman, E. S. (2003). Social policy in Canada. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press.
Steinberg, J. (2013). Bismarck: a life. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Williams, R. (1976). Keywords: a vocabulary of culture and society. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.