Reconstructing the American Welfare State

by David Stoesz Virginia Commonwealth University, Howard Karger

Overview

There is widespread agreement that the American welfare state is in crisis. Derived piecemeal from the New Deal, the welfare state is faced with numerous problems, including severe fiscal constraint, programmatic fragmentation, rigid bureaucratization and proceduralism which hinders effective service delivery, diminishing political and social legitimacy, disaffection among welfare recipients, and numerous other difficulties. The authors of this book argue that clinging to old and outmoded policy approaches do not offer workable remedies to the welfare crisis. They also believe that 'new Right' policies for drastic welfare cuts are unrealistic and contrary to wider social interests. Instead, Reconstructing the American Welfare State offers innovative, imaginative, and pragmatic solutions. They argue that principles such as equity, economic and political feasibility, effectiveness, and productivity should guide a reconstructed welfare state, and advocate a paradigm emphasizing access to services, social choice, the revitalization of the private sector, voluntarization, community redevelopment, the rekindling of social obligations, and other policy approaches.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780847677276
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/23/1991
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	230
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.96(h) x 0.49(d)

About the Author

David Stoesz is an Associate Professor at San Diego State University. Howard Karger is Professor of Social Work at Louisiana State University.

Editorial Reviews

.. . the book succeeds and is well worth reading.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

...Stoesz and Karger are to be commended for a wonderfully thoughtful, lucid, and critical analysis of the challenges confronting the American social welfare state.

Raymond Albert

. . . the book succeeds and is well worth reading.

Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

...it is definitely a worthwhile addition to the literature....the book makes clear that there is a consensus on the need for and desire for change.

Public Administration Review

. . . the book succeeds and is well worth reading.

Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare