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Resisting austerity measures to social policies: multiple explanatory case studies
Patricia O'Campo1,2, Alix Freiler1, Carles Muntaner3
1Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada.
Health Promotion International
|October 2, 2018
Summary
European governments increasingly adopted austerity policies post-2008. Joint action by advocacy groups and the social construction of target populations, like pensioners, proved effective in resisting social spending cuts.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Public Policy
Background:
- European governments increasingly adopted neoliberal policies and austerity measures post-2008 Great Recession, shifting focus from social protection.
- This trend has led to significant challenges in maintaining social welfare programs across various European nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the success factors and strategies of challenges and resistance to austerity measures in social policy.
- To identify whether resistance strategies are transferable across different contexts or unique to specific cases.
Main Methods:
- Multiple explanatory case studies methodology applied to four diverse settings.
- Analysis focused on three social policy issues: gender budgeting, unemployment benefits, and fuel poverty reduction programs.
- Theoretical framework drew from collective action, political ideology, and political power theories.
Main Results:
- Joint action between advocacy groups was a key factor in successfully resisting cuts to social spending.
- The social construction of target populations significantly influenced the success of resistance efforts.
- Pensioners in England and Northern Ireland demonstrated considerable political influence in protecting social programs.
Conclusions:
- Despite varying political and policy contexts, similarities in successful resistance strategies were observed across studied cases.
- Collaborative advocacy and strategic framing of affected populations are crucial for mitigating austerity impacts.
- Understanding the political power dynamics of target groups is essential for effective social policy defense.
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