In The Name of Liberalism: Illiberal Social Policy in the USA and Britain

by Desmond King

Overview

This book investigates examples of social policy in Britain and the United States that conflict with liberal democratic ideals. It examines the use of eugenic arguments in the 1920s and 1930s, the use of work camps in the 1930s, and the introduction of work-for-welfare programs since the 1980s. The author argues that government accommodation of illiberal policies are a paradox of a liberal democratic framework.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198296096
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/09/1999
Pages:	354
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	1670L (what's this?)

About the Author

Desmond King is a Professor of Politics and a Fellow of St John's College, Oxford.

Table of Contents

PART 1. POLITICS, POLICY MAKING AND IDEAS.1. Liberalism and Illiberal Social Policy2. Liberal Democracy and Policy-Making: Knowledge and the Formation of Social PolicyPART 2. LIBERAL UNREASON3. Cutting off the Worse: Voluntary Sterilisation in Britain in the 1930s4. The Gravest Menace?: Eugenics and American Immigration PolicyPART 3. LIBERAL AMELIORATION AND COLLECTIVISM5. Reconditioning the Unemployed: the Labour Camps in Britain6. This Kind of Work Must Go On: The US Civilian Conservation CorpsPART 4. THE LIBERAL COERCIVE CONTRACT7. Aroused Like One From Sleep: From New Poor Law to Workfare in Britain8. A Second Chance, Not a Way of Life: Welfare as Workfare in the USPART 5. COONCLUSION9. The Future of Social Citizenship

Editorial Reviews

An eloquently written, conceptually innovative and empirically rich inquiry. It is unusual to find such a study worthy of such praise on so many fronts.

Jour of Intl Law and Com