Areas of Interaction between Family and State

Abstract

Chapters 1 and 2 focused on family change, and Chapter 3 on continuity versus change. This chapter will consider the general area of interaction in Britain between families in their different forms, and the machinery of the state, concentrating on what is generally known as the ‘welfare state’: that is, mechanisms which act to offset some of the adverse effects of the market, and which attempt to provide citizens with employment, reasonable standards of living, minimum incomes and other minimum standards, and a range of services such as health, education and social care. The laws which the state makes to regulate family life will also be included. As most individuals live in a family of some kind (defining family broadly) at some stage of their lives, much of this state activity — even if directed at individuals — does in practice impinge on families; while some of it is specifically designed with families of various kinds in mind. The discussion will focus first on the state—family interaction in general, and then the different areas of interaction in the British context, including family law, incomes policy, housing policy, community care of adults, and child care. It will attempt to give an overview of the ‘state of play’ in recent policies affecting families.