Theory, Ideology and Social Policy

Abstract

In an attempt to free the discipline of Social Administration from the normative straitjacket of twenty years ago, Pinker rejects both free market liberalism and Marxism as ideological and operational solutions to social policy development on the grounds that any transition would involve irreparable damage to our present society (while many, of course would argue that it is precisely what is needed!) and massive diswelfares in general. In social science, he argues, we should reject the “vice of indifference, which is the extreme of impartiality, and the vice of ideological commitment, the extreme of concern”, and steer a middle course. This paper which attempts to relate theory and ideology in social welfare has elements of challenge, disagreement and debate - the characteristics of a provocative and scholarly seminar paper.