Sociology and Social Policy: From a Love-Hate Relationship with the State to Cynicism and Pragmatism
Author(s)
Renaud, Marc; Dore, Suzanne; White, Deena
Abstract
Quebec’s sociologists have been at the heart of the so-called Revolution tranquille. They have inspired reforms, animated projects and served as ‘grey eminences’ to the government. Yet, by the mid 1970s, many had grown intensely critical of state intervention in social policies: not only was the state incapable of really redistributing resources from the rich to the poor, but it was also paralysing the action of community groups and other social movements. In this article, the francophone literature on the state and social policy since 1975 is reviewed. The authors conclude that Quebec sociologists have become less fixated on the state, and are beginning to turn their attention more and more to specific social groups in need.
