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Perspectuves on (Marxists (The state represents the interests of the…
Perspectuves on
Marxists
The state represents the interests of the ruling classes, therefore policy benefits capitalists, not the whole of society.
Policies mask capitalistic exploitation, for example the NHS gives the state a ‘human face’. They maintain the labour force by keeping everyone healthy and ready to work. They also prevent revolutions, for example, the introduction of the NHS after WWII prevented a working-class rebellion.
Marxists do acknowledge that policy can benefit the working-classes, but its benefit is always under threat due to the fluctuating nature of capitalistic profit.
The primary role of sociologists is to expose the exploitation within society and to criticise the riling powers. The only true solution to social problems is to overthrow capitalism.
However, social democrats criticise Marxists because sometimes social policy can bring about permanent, beneficial change to marginalised groups.
Westergaard suggests that increasing benefits in society will have an adverse effect and reduce class consciousness.
The New Right
They believe that the state should have minimal involvement with social problems. This is because state intervention in areas of welfare and education causes the growth of the underclass and increases issues of crime and deviance.
Murray claims that over-generous benefits disestablish the nuclear family and breeds complacency and therefore criminality.
The role of the sociologist is to restore an individual’s responsibility for their own welfare, which takes the burden away from the state. People should not be dependent on the state.
Breakdown Britain, a report by the Social Justice Policy Group, proposes a series of parenting and marriage classes, and would offer economic incentives for stay at home mothers, to preserve the nuclear family.
Wilson and Kelling’s ‘zero tolerance policies’ have been introduced to reduce crime and increase ‘law and order’.
However, New Right research tends to use politically biased think tanks which can undermine the validity of the study, impacting the likelihood of it being used in policy making decisions.
Functionalism
Comte and Durkheim believe that sociology is a science. This rational thinking can be used to overcome social problems in society and to promote human betterment.
Society is based on a value consensus, so the state serves the interests of the masses by implementing national policy.
The sociologist’s role is to provide the state with objective, scientific information which can discover the causes and provide cures of social problems.
Functionalists believe in piecemeal social engineering, which is tackling one specific issue at a time.
However, Marxists claim that the wider structural inequalities cannot be overcome by piecemeal policy decisions.
Feminism
Society is patriarchal, and policy reinforces female subordination.
Family policies are often solely based on the nuclear family, which is exclusionary of the many different family structures in modern society.
Liberal feminists have influenced educational policy, such as anti-discrimination laws and promoting teachers to avoid making gender-biased decisions in the classroom.
Radical feminists have influenced the ‘Women’s Aid Federation’ which offers refuge for women escaping domestic violence and reflects views regarding separatism.
However, some extreme ideologies have not influenced policy due to their radical, and unpopular nature.
Social Democrats
Townsend claims that sociologists should research social issues and make policy decisions to eradicate them. He conducted research on poverty and recommended higher benefits and more public spending on education.
The Black Report looked at class inequalities in health and made 37 policy recommendations including: free school meals and improved housing conditions. However, the policy was not altered by Thatcher’s government due to cost implications.
However, Marxists claim that whilst inequalities do exist, they are a result of capitalism and can only be solved by disestablishing the money-making machine. Furthermore, governments are unlikely to introduce policy which will reduce inequality for cost reasons.
Postmodernists argue that sociologists can only interpret facts and cannot offer solutions to social phenomena because there are no objective truths in society, therefore no single ‘cure’.
Left Realists
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Giddens believes that a community needs 'active citizens' to maintain social solidarity, and he believes it is the job of policy makers to ensure social integration.
Giddens' work influenced New Labour policies such as citizenship programmes in schools and the 'Welfare to Work' programme.