Social Policy in a Development Context: Introduction
Author(s)
Mkandawire, Thandika
Abstract
This volume clearly elaborates the case that social policy can work in tandem with economic policy to lead to socioeconomic development and argue strongly for the inseparability of the economic and social. There are new approaches in social policy in which it serves both as an end and as an instrument of social development and these need to be assessed for their potential contribution to society at large. There is also a clear need to bridge the hiatus between theoretical and empirical findings and social policy making, and means and ends. This argues for the necessity of research that brings together the diverse strands of analysis and encourages more explicit consideration of policy implications in different political, economic, and social settings. Finally, social policy addresses fundamental values of social inclusion, equity, human rights and widening of human capabilities: It is important that these intrinsic values are always at the forefront of thinking about social policy. The pursuit of things of intrinsic value has to be seen in the context of the contending claims of efficiency, and in general of aggregative concerns. This is the challenge of social policy in the development context.
