The left and reciprocity
Many in Labour now argue that welfare policy should be reformed so that it is more consistent with the norm of reciprocity. Is this the right way forward for the left? This paper argues that the norm of reciprocity is indeed central to the social democratic understanding of social justice. However, a social democratic approach to reciprocity requires that welfare policy be put in the context of a wider agenda in which undeserved wealth is fairly taxed, working poverty is abolished and all forms of social contribution, such as unpaid care work, are properly acknowledged and supported.
Keywords: LABOUR PARTY; POVERTY; RECIPROCITY; SOCIAL DEMOCRACY; TAXATION; WELFARE POLICY
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 08 December 2010
- Soundings pioneers thoughtful, critical ideas on culture, society and politics. That's why leading left thinkers from Britain, Latin America, Asia, the United States and Europe debate their ideas in our pages.
'Deeply thoughtful about the public life of politics and the intimacy of our private lives and how they interconnect. Soundings is one of the few places where you read ideas which can change your mind.' Madeleine Bunting - Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content