Global Social Policy recent issues

Global Social Policy Forum: Introduction: Reclaiming Primary Health Care -- Why Does Alma Ata Still Matter? Or Can We Still Speak of the Relevance of Alma Ata?

Koivusalo, M., Baru, R. — 2008-07-15

The World Health Organization's Decennial Ritual of `Remembering' the Alma Ata Declaration

Banerji, D. — 2008-07-15

Neoliberalism and its Consequences: The World Health Situation Since Alma Ata

Navarro, V. — 2008-07-15

Reflections on Alma Ata

Green, A. — 2008-07-15

Alma Ata and Social Movements

Narayan, T. — 2008-07-15

Establishing a Workforce of Globally Aware Health Professionals Alma Ata and Alma Mata Global Health Network

Hope, R., Nicholson, B., Baguley, D. — 2008-07-15

Re-Reading the Alma Ata Declaration: The Need to Say the Unsaid, to Do the Undone, and to Think for the 21st Century

Shukla, A. — 2008-07-15

Globalization and the Housing Asset Rich: Geographies, Demographies and Policy Convoys

Forrest, R. — 2008-07-15

This article explores the importance of housing assets in shaping the global landscape of opportunity and disadvantage. In doing so, it is concerned with four key issues. First, it seeks to highlight the increasing significance of housing related wealth at a global scale. Second, it is concerned with the uneven and potentially divisive impact of housing asset accumulation, within and between societies. Third, it seeks to show how economic, geo-demographic and policy contexts combine to produce different outcomes for different population cohorts. Fourth, it discusses the way in which more market driven housing systems and housing wealth accumulation are changing the social policy environment. The underlying argument of the article is that the dynamics of housing markets and housing assets are of growing significance in relation to contemporary patterns of risk, opportunity, vulnerability and privilege and need to be embraced more thoroughly in social policy debate.

From Structural Adjustment to Social Adjustment: A Gendered Analysis of Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes in Mexico and Nicaragua

Bradshaw, S. — 2008-07-15

The article explores the implications for gender roles and relations in Nicaragua of implementing a Conditional Cash Transfer programme aimed at improving the situation of the extreme poor. Nicaragua's programme, the Social Protection Network/Red de Protección Social (RPS), is modelled on the Progresa/Oportunidades programme of Mexico and shares many features in common. Evaluations of Progresa have suggested positive outcomes for women. However, examination of the findings highlight some cause for concern particularly around what inclusion on the programme means for the women involved. The article explores the consequences of translating this programme aimed at addressing the structural causes of poverty into a more overtly neoliberal and neo-conservative policy context such as that in Nicaragua. It highlights how a key feature of the RPS is the `social adjustment' of women's behaviour for economic growth gains and discusses the possible consequences for the women included and excluded from the programme.

Old Age Pensions, Poverty and Dignity: Historical Arguments for Universal Pensions

Kildal, N., Kuhnle, S. — 2008-07-15

AB STRACT The article refers to studies indicating that universal old age pension programmes alone or in combination with earnings-related schemes are conducive to poverty alleviation and less income inequality. Universalism matters, but few countries in the world have introduced universal old age pension programmes. The article does not research this apparent paradox, but asks the empirical question of whether poverty was a prime concern and reflected in arguments used in favour of universal old age pension when such programmes were introduced historically. What were the pro-arguments? The article looks at the arguments for establishing universal old age pension in three selected countries, all belonging to the group of pioneer countries in this respect: Canada, Mauritius and Norway, which all introduced universal pensions in the 1950s. Historical arguments for universal pension systems in these countries are presented and compared. The ambition to reduce poverty was an important motivation in two of the countries, but the main consideration cutting across all three countries was the moral aversion to means-testing and the desire to achieve fairness and respect to human dignity. Another argument found in all three countries was the pragmatic one that a universal scheme would lead to a reduction of the administrative cost of old age provision compared with a system based on means testing.

Pension Reform in Nigeria: How not to `Learn from Others'

Casey, B. H., Dostal, J. M. — 2008-07-15

While the Chilean pension reform has received considerable attention, its emulation in Nigeria has not. This article is the first in-depth analysis of the Nigerian reform. It suggests that the Nigerian authorities failed to learn the lessons of Chile. They transposed a system that both failed to serve the country from which it was copied and that is inappropriate to the country to which it was copied. For countries such as Nigeria, alternative forms of provision for old age are needed. A social pension might be considered.

Review Essay: Possibilities of Positive Social Action in the Middle East: A Re-Reading of the History of Social Policy in the Region

Jawad, R. — 2008-07-15

GSP Digest

2008-07-15

Global Social Policy Forum: Introduction: Tackling Health Worker Migration -- Addressing the Fault Lines of Policy Incoherence

Loewenson, R. — 2008-02-28

Health Workforce Migration: Addressing Causes and Managing Effects

Omaswa, F. — 2008-02-28

Responding to the Challenge of Migration of Health Workers: Rights, Obligations, and Equity in North/South Relations

Mensah, K. — 2008-02-28

Addressing the Internal Brain Drain of Medical Doctors in Thailand: The Story and Lesson Learned

Wibulpolprasert, S., Pachanee, C.-A. — 2008-02-28

Defending Worker and Community Rights in Addressing the Global Health Care Workforce Crisis

Gencianos, G. — 2008-02-28

Blocking Progress: The IMF and HIV/AIDS

Rowden, R. — 2008-02-28

International Organizations and Social Insurance in Mexico

Dion, M. — 2008-02-28

AB STRACT How do international organizations (IOs) influence domestic social policy? This article answers this question using a comparison of IO participation in the social insurance policy making process in Mexico in the 1940s and 1990s. There are similarities and differences between the periods. During both periods, IOs contributed technical expertise to the policy design process. The principal IO participating in policy discussions and the means of influence differed in the 1990s from the 1940s. The comparison suggests that IOs use both hard and soft power resources to influence domestic social policy.

`Misunderestimating' Chronic Poverty?: Exploring Chronic Poverty in Developing Countries Using Cross-Sectional Demographic and Health Data

Nandy, S. — 2008-02-28

This article examines the issue of chronic (i.e. long-term) poverty in developing countries. It presents a method for estimating chronic poverty using cross-sectional data and suggests that researchers need not rely solely on longitudinal or panel data. As such data are unavailable for most developing countries, the method outlined here provides an opportunity to expand our understanding of the distribution and pattern of chronic poverty in many more countries. The article also shows how the methods used to estimate the number of chronically poor in developing countries in the 2005 Chronic Poverty Report contain errors that render them serious underestimates. The problem of chronic poverty is therefore considerably more pressing and more widespread than is currently thought.

Global Health Governance: Conflicts on Global Social Rights

Hein, W., Kohlmorgen, L. — 2008-02-28

AB STRACT This article analyses the impact of new institutional structures in global health governance (GHG) on the realization of social rights in poor countries. Focusing on the example of global HIV/AIDS politics. The article argues that new governance modes increase the participation of civil society groups and affected communities, but also that they are frequently instrumentalized by powerful actors to pursue their particular interests. In fact, increasing resources are mobilized for the fight against poverty-related diseases. The article concludes that, as the experience of HIV/AIDS politics, the conflicts around the TRIPS Agreement and the development of Global Public-Private Partnerships GPPPs suggest, GHG is characterized by a combination of moral values and material interests that does not guarantee a comprehensive realization of social rights, but which allows some progress in the fight against poverty-related diseases — a step toward realization of social rights.

The Contemporary Social Policy Debate in Latin America

Cortes, R. — 2008-02-28

Review Essay: Economic Reform, Neoliberal Globalization and Social Policy: Reconstructing the Relationship between the State, the Market and Citizens in China

Zhou, Y. R. — 2008-02-28

GSP Digest

2008-02-28

Editorial Introduction: Special Issue on The Social Policy Dimensions of World-Regionalism

Yeates, N. — 2007-11-13

Global Social Policy Forum

Brennan, B., Olivet, C. — 2007-11-13

Alternative Regionalisms: Why and How?

Keet, D. — 2007-11-13

People's Dialogue on Alternatives for Regional Integration (CANDIDO GRZYBOWSKI is a Sociologist and Director General of the Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis (IBASE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.)

Grzybowski, C. — 2007-11-13

Civil Society Challenging ASEAN (JENINA JOY CHAVEZ is Senior Researcher with Focus on the Global South, Manila, Philippines.)

Chavez, J. J. — 2007-11-13

Alternative Regional Strategies in Africa

Keet, D. — 2007-11-13

Social Movement Strategies and Integration of Peoples (GONZALO BERRON is Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Hemispheric Social Alliance [HSA], Sao Paolo, Brazil.)

Berron, G. — 2007-11-13

Regionalisms Futures: The Challenges for Civil Society

Brennan, B., Olivet, C. — 2007-11-13

The Social Dimension of the European Union: Innovative Methods for Advancing Integration

Threlfall, M. — 2007-11-13

Regional integration processes can learn from the particularities of the European Union's social dimension, despite its apparent inconsistencies and sui generis form of development. The article provides a comprehensive retrospective overview of developments, and pays particular attention to the political and technical procedures adopted for progressing social policy. It argues that a regional integration process in a wide range of social fields has developed in the EU despite facing dissent and dilemmas for over 50 years. It claims that the EU now enjoys a working and workable apparatus of policies, practices and laws in a broad social dimension, that are not only far more extensive than first envisaged in the Treaty of Rome, but are also destined to expand further. In particular, the article moves beyond previous accounts in arguing that procedural complexity has been an intrinsic and creative part of the social dimension to European integration.

Strategic Regionalism and Regional Social Policy in the FTAA Process

Briceno Ruiz, J. — 2007-11-13

This article analyses the US proposal to establish a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and argues that two approaches to the FTAA exist, as evidenced during the negotiating process. The first approach is strategic regionalism. Promoted by an alliance of the US and Multinational Enterprises, the objective is to promote regional economic integration based on a radical liberalization of markets accompanied by limited regulation of certain `trade related issues', notably intellectual property, government procurement and investment. The second approach proposes a gradual liberalization of markets, common industrial development and a regional social policy. Advocates of this approach include governments, regional groupings, some business groups and civil society organizations. This article explores the ways in which these Latin American actors have confronted the `strategic regionalism' approach and argues that their strategies of opposition and contestation are a major cause of current collapse in the FTAA negotiation process.

Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) and the Intra-Regional Migration of Nurses: Some Proposed Opportunities

Hosein, R., Thomas, C. — 2007-11-13

CARICOM as a small regional trading agreement is characterized by economies with differing degrees of development. This article reviews the differing economic attributes of these various CARICOM states and then discusses in detail how the intra-regional movement of skilled workers (such as nurses) can help to solve some of the regional shortages of skills which exists for this category of workers. The article argues that this type of skilled worker movement can provide considerable benefits for migrant nurses without the drift of their skills beyond the region.

Free Trade and Social Citizenship: Prospects and Possibilities of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)

Abrahamson, P. — 2007-11-13

The article takes as its starting point the proliferation of regional free trade agreements, and the question is posed: whether increased economic integration in Central America may `spill over' in enhanced social citizenship rights? The question is triggered by the signing in 2004 of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The article explores the arguments concerning the development of CAFTA-DR and social citizenship, exemplified by labour rights. The article situates the making of CAFTA-DR in the context of historical attempts to promote regionalism. It reviews the arguments for and against free trade agreements in the USA and Central America and argues that there are tangible effects on social citizenship in particular relating to labour rights that can be credited to the signing of the agreement. The article concludes that CAFTA-DR has generated new possibilities for social citizenship in the region.

Social Policy in ASEAN: The Prospects for Integrating Migrant Labour Rights and Protection

Chavez, J. J. — 2007-11-13

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has made strides in regional integration and cooperation, aided by unique modes of governance privileging consensus and non-interference. However, the social dimension is in the early stages of development and is currently detached from economic integration initiatives. The movement of low- and unskilled workers, many of whom are undocumented, has received especially little attention in ASEAN. Their growing numbers underscore the importance of treating migration as integral rather than separate from labour and general social protection issues. The establishment of regional agreements on social protection and integration, with particular focus on migration and labour standards, should signal the recognition of the economic nature of migration, and help strengthen the relevance and profile of ASEAN among the citizens of member countries. While existing mechanisms can be used to push for this — from Track II discussions to regional coalition building — the political challenge lies in making the issue an active concern in official ASEAN agenda.

Review essay: Regional Integration, Poverty and Social Policy: K. MALHOTRA, C. BAHADUR, S. JAHAN AND M. KEKLIK, Making Global Trade Work for People. New York: UNDP and Earthscan, 2003. 341 pp. M. SCHIFF AND L.A. WINTERS, Regional Integration and Development. Washington: The World Bank, 2003. 321 pp. D.W. TE VELDE (ed.), Regional Integration and Poverty. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2006. 297 pp

Van Langenhove, L., De Lombaerde, P. — 2007-11-13

GSP Digest

2007-11-13

Acknowledgement of Referees

2007-11-13

Global Social Policy Forum: Editors' Introduction: Globalization and Social Determinants of Health

Schrecker, T., Labonte, R., Koivusalo, M. — 2007-07-19

Social Dynamics of Women's Health: Reflections from India

Soman, K. — 2007-07-19

Challenges for Health and Social Protection in Latin America

Cruces, G., Titelman, D. — 2007-07-19

Creating a Healthier Version of Globalization

Heymann, J., Kidman, R. — 2007-07-19

A Water Policy Revolution?

Bond, P., Wilson, Z. — 2007-07-19

Is a Brave New World of Social Equity Possible? Claiming the Dawn ...

Loewenson, R. — 2007-07-19

Social Policies in the World Bank: Paradigms and Challenges

Hall, A. — 2007-07-19

Social policies in the World Bank have evolved into three conceptually and operationally separate agendas: social welfare, social protection and social development. Welfare services and basic human needs, as well as social protection in the form of safety nets and social safeguards, together form the mainstay of what is generally regarded within the organization as constituting social policy. Social development reflects a broader if more fragmented view of social policy. Bank specialists have recently sought to widen the definition of social policy beyond welfare and protection, building upon longstanding academic discourse in this field. However, in attempting to pursue a more holistic and over-arching vision of social policy for development, they are likely to encounter major internal obstacles. Meeting this challenge will not be facilitated by the Bank reorganization announced in June 2006, which may serve to restrict the independence and remit of environmental and social specialists.

Devolution and Neoliberalism in the Canadian Welfare State: Ideology, National and International Conditioning Frameworks, and Policy Change in British Columbia

Mcbride, S., Mcnutt, K. — 2007-07-19

The Canadian welfare state has changed significantly in the last decade with the federal devolution of policy responsibilities creating opportunities for some provinces to adopt American social policy ideas. Given the expectations of resilience and non-convergence, in the welfare state literature, this article addresses the issues of policy change by demonstrating that the movement of British Columbia's labour and social policy towards international neoliberal norms, including policy examples set in many US jurisdictions, have produced limited convergence. We suggest that this indicates that more change has occurred and is occurring in the Canadian welfare state than the resilience model or comparative public policy literature would indicate.

Translating Policy and Practice: Day Care for People with Dementia in Kerala, India

McCabe, L. — 2007-07-19

Global influences and demographic changes are leading policy makers in less developed countries to look to more developed regions for policy and service ideas. Policy and services ideas may then be `borrowed' via processes such as policy transfer (Dolowitz and Marsh, 1996). This article explores the establishment of day care for people with dementia in Kerala, India. During the development of this service policy, information and practice ideas were transferred from different countries, particularly the UK. During the transfer of information and also within the following processes of implementation and enactment of policy, translation processes take place. In order to understand these translation processes, this article describes the development of day care in Kerala and compares its current functioning with that of similar day care centres in the UK. The concept of translation is found to illuminate and explain the process of service development in Kerala and could be used elsewhere to explain examples of policy and practice development.

Social Protection in East Asia

Cook, S., Kwon, H.-J. — 2007-07-19

Reports on Globalization: The Global Social Dimension vs National Competitiveness

Kosonen, P. — 2007-07-19

GSP Digest

2007-07-19