Welfare reform and public justification. (2nd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eriksen, Andreas; Molander, Anders
• Is Part Of: Policy studies. Volume 40:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 628
• Page End: 647
• Publication Date: 2019-11-02
• Subjects: Public justification -- welfare programmes -- welfare reform -- political viability -- justificatory narrative; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Economic policy -- Decision making -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Decision making -- Periodicals; 320.605
• DOI: 10.1080/01442872.2018.1538487
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-2872

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper investigates the conditions of political argument with regard to welfare legislation. It connects to the discussion on the role of ideas in political change but develops a new approach by investigating arguments in light of theories of public justification in a democratic society. The paper uses a recent Norwegian law as the case for studying how politicians frame their arguments for "mandatory activation, " meaning the policy that requires recipients to participate in work-oriented activities. The paper finds that Norwegian advocates of activation use a "justificatory narrative" that presents the new law as a form of paternalistic concern for the benefit recipients. It is argued that this justification can be understood as shaped by certain basic conditions of political viability.