Comparative Social Policy - Research Proposal Example

Comparative Social Policy Social policy refers to a set of guidelines, legislation, or principles designed to offer a blue print on how matters to do with people’s welfare will be conducted and responded to. It usually acts as a public policy that .lays the foundation against which people’s interest shall be represented through established systems and institutions. Some scholars have observed that social policy tends to focus on health care issues, criminal justice, labour relations, and all matters that pertain to elements of unfair treatment. In short, social policy is designed to deal with equity issues in the society. It serves as a platform through which wellbeing of members of a society is addressed to ensure equal access to resources for equal benefit of every member of that society. The concept of social policy was first developed in the period that preceded the aftermath of the industrial revolution. Social policy was occasioned by the fact that a larger percentage of the population was still poor and had to look for jobs in the industries where they were exposed to harmful work environments. With time, many countries formulated and implemented various social policies in a bid to respond to emerging social needs of the society. As a result, different countries have different social policies that reflect the scenarios in their cases. Perhaps the most dominant social policy that is still fresh to everyone’s mind is the universal healthcare insurance program that America adopted. Given the wider nature of social policy, this analysis shall focus on the United States and Britain. Literature Review According to Dean (2012), social policy in countries that have stable democracies such as the US and UK operates like legal policies. Dean showed that most of the existing policies are consistent with UN Charter on Human Rights. Several studies by various scholars have continued to show that many western countries have social policies that focus mostly on housing, health, and social services. Although many of the western countries have sometimes reviewed their social policies depending on the government in office, many of the established social policies have always remained fairly constant even with regime change (Dean, 2012). As a result, many western countries have made great strides in social policy than many countries in Asia, Middle East and Africa region. The above comparison is just for the purposed of analysing the stability of social policies in practice, not the achievements of provisions of such social needs (Dean, 2012). Matthews (2011), observes that social policies have achieved their objective sin western countries more than anywhere. As such, one would expect that social policies in Britain and the United States are examples of what it means to have good policies in place. Comparatively, one would also expect that the two countries would have quite a number of similarities in their policies. Matthews further states that some aspects of social policies are usually case specific and the US and Britain will largely show significant differences. Such areas shall most likely be found in education and health care. Statement of General Aims and Specific Objectives The aim of the proposed study is to compare and contrast social policy in the United States and in Britain. The paper shall seek to research various policies around health care, education policy, issues pertaining to marriage, adoption, and divorce, and social security. The result collected from the above study will be used to analyze the changing global trends to observe how much each country remains globally relevant to the needs of its citizens. Data obtained shall also be used to analyze whether there is need to re-address social policy with regard to the issue in question. Besides, results obtained in the study will also be used to analyze how much the two concerned governments have remained agile to represents the interests and aspirations of the people as is enshrined in their constitution. The study will also enable assessment and evaluation of how the two countries safeguard certain provisions of United Nations Charter on Human Rights. Research Questions Specifically, the following research questions will be addressed: 1. Has the United States shown concern about social policy issues the through formulation and implementation? 2. Has Britain shown concern about social policy issues the through formulation and implementation? 3. Do the implemented social policy issues in both countries match the people’s interests and aspirations? 4. Are there big differences between the social issues pursued by the two countries? 5. What are the similarities in the social policies in the two countries? 6. To what extent can one conclude that political ideology in both countries is responsible for the differences and similarities in the Britain and United States’ social policies? 7. How much are the social policies in both countries perfect consistent with provisions of selected clauses on United Nations charter on Human Rights? Methodology It is proposed that the research shall take the format secondary data analysis and secondary information analysis. The research shall conduct an analysis of social policy issues in the United States and Britain. In the US, the paper shall analyze the health care policy before and after the passing of the universal health care program. Such healthcare policy analysis will be conducted on the basis of how it was financed and how much it will be financed. Analysis of health policies, health workforce, and care providers, budgetary allocation from the federal government, access, and affordability will be analyzed. For the case of Britain that has not experience a change in its health care system, the research shall analyze the countries health care history, and how much it has changed in the period after the Second World War. The paper will also assess how various governments in Britain have affected health policy. Most importantly, the paper will assess the measure taken by the country in the post-depression period. Other social policy issues that will be intriguing to analyze, compare and contrast shall be social care. The paper shall research on how each of the two countries engages in social care for the disadvantaged members of their societies such as the aged. This will involve an analysis of the relevant policies in place and what they have achieved since their formulation and implementation. Moreover, the paper will also attempt to unravel the theories behind the formulation and implementation of such social policies. Most importantly, the paper will assess the milestones achieved by education policy in both countries. This will involve an analysis is existing education policies in both countries in terms of when they were formulated and the goals at the time of their formulation. An assessment of whether such education policies are still relevant in the context of current 21st century world will also be taken into consideration. This will be done especially so in a bid to analyze how such polices meet the dynamic needs of the society. In this category, there will be a need to compare how such policies in education rank the country on the global arena where Singapore is increasing becoming a dominant force. Under the education policy analysis, special attention will be paid to United States whose education system has been observed to be quite static since its conception. It will also be important to analyze budgetary allocations to the education sector in both countries to assess how much nations in the west invest in education and what rewards they stand to reap by such investments. Dissemination In the above research, one may observe that findings will most likely show that both Britain and United States have shown concern about social policy issues the through formulation and implementation. One would also expect that the social policies implemented may or may not match the people’s interests and aspirations depending on specific issues that will be addressed. It also appears there will be little difference between the social policies that the two countries pursue. Other research questions remain to be observes during the actual research. Specific Milestones and Proposed Time Line In order to complete the research successfully, there will be literature collection will be began after thesis draft and ethics proposal. After approval of the research proposal, there will be embarking on research actual data collection and result analysis. The final bit, which is final thesis write up shall be completed by 17th May, 2013. Other sections of the research shall be allocated time as shall be necessitated by required volume of submission. Significance of Research As one may observe, social policies serve to make sure that the public receive their rightful share of national and natural resources. Social policies also help to make sure that all the relevant or necessary. They guarantee that there is equity in distribution of resources in the society. The significance of this research comparison in social policies between Britain and USA is to serve as a guideline to nations that have not yet formulated or implemented sound social policies for the welfare of their citizens. It is therefore hoped that the research that shall proceed from this proposal shall serve to guide Britain and USA on where they may borrow from each other to continue implementing sound social policies (Dean, 2012, p.48). Bibliography Dean, H., 2012. Social Policy. Malden: Polity. Matthews, B. and Ross, L., 2010. Research Methods; A practical guide for the social sciences, Longman, Harlow: Ch B6. Read More