Abstract
This chapter looks at some explanatory factors for social welfare development. The research question ‘why state welfare?’ has intrigued many researchers in western democracies, and there is no lack of explanations and theoretical frameworks for this phenomenon. In fact, pioneering studies of this question could be traced back to the early 1960s. Since then, competing theories have been proposed. There is some agreement among analysts that no single theory is comprehensive enough to explain the origin and development of state welfare in the advanced industrial countries. Specifically, these theories encounter difficulties when they are applied to former communist countries and the nations of the Third World (MacPherson & Midgley, 1987). There is as yet no systematic or coherent theory of welfare development which is uniquely rooted in non-western social contexts. Applying and testing these theories in non-western contexts is nevertheless desirable, as this would pave the way for future analysis.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Copyright information
© 2000 Kwong-leung Tang
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tang, Kl. (2000). East Asia and Theories of Comparative Social Policy. In: Social Welfare Development in East Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333985496_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333985496_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-41340-9
Online ISBN: 978-0-333-98549-6
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)