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Double Standard: Social Policy in Europe and the United States
Today Europeans see their strong welfare states as necessary to counter the worst features of unrestrained capitalism. They pay high taxes to support generous social benefits. Americans, to the contrary, have been conditioned to shudder at the very idea of a welfare state, upholding instead a laissez-faire faith in market solutions to social problems. They pay low taxes and have few tax-subsidized benefits. In this far-ranging study, James W. Russell shows how and why these different models of social and welfare policy developed. He examines how Europe and the United States have handled differently, and with different consequences, such common social problems as poverty, inequality, unemployment, family support, health care provision, ethnic and racial conflict, and crime. Ultimately, Russell demonstrates that the different European and American social policy orientations have produced different social ways of life, ways of life that are now in contention for the future of western societies.
- GenresNonfictionSchool
204 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 15, 2015
4.65 stars
“In the Weeds . . .”
I found this wonderful book in the “For Sale” rack at my local library. Consequently, it seems fitting that my biggest criticism of the book parallels my criticism for the work of Elizabeth Warren, Jared Bernstein, and others: why weren’t these issues being raised earlier? Well, of course, they were. And, the aforementioned folks were the ones raising them.
So then, a follow-on question arises: why hasn’t the average viewer / reader seen or heard about these issues until just before our financial crash? The answer, it seems, lies with the changes in our media, our culture, and our government that have occurred over the last 30 years or so—the very changes to which the aforementioned folks and this book calls attention. And so, like Warren’s work on bankruptcy and Bernstein’s work on poverty, Russell’s work on social policy has remained largely “in the weeds.”
Published two years before the financial crash of 2008, Russell’s book nevertheless, then and now, becomes necessary reading.
On the surface, his investigation seemingly compares and contrasts social policy between the United States and Europe. Yet, when he delves into the “whys” of the differences between them, the reader sees one fundamental difference underlying all those other attending differences—one which Russell hermeneutically traces back in history to the United States’ formation and Europe’s feudal heritage.
A sociologist, Russell makes his analysis not only with points from other sociologists / economists—Durkheim, Weber, and Marx, but also indirectly with past philosophers—Plato, Aristotle, and Hobbes. Additionally, the various tables of statistics, (for each social policy area), should be enough to alarm any American citizen. Yet, given recent history, alarm itself would seem a surprise.
True to his field, Russell rather makes no frantic plea. Rather, as his exploration / investigation takes into account two to three courses of action or “directions,” he returns to these to simply offer the reader the likely and logical possibilities. Indeed, we, the readers of these facts, become the agents for change—or not.
My only true critiques of this book are picayune: no mention of “The East” for perspective, a now out-of-date relay of public education, (that, too, is under attack from “free market” privatization), and health care, (“Obamacare” or the Affordable Care Act has passed, and is, at least for now, “holding” in place as law. Again, these are picayune points.
Finally, Russell’s exploration is absorbing, striking, and thought-provoking. Simply, this book is a "Must Read." A "Must Read" which should spur action.
“In the Weeds . . .”
I found this wonderful book in the “For Sale” rack at my local library. Consequently, it seems fitting that my biggest criticism of the book parallels my criticism for the work of Elizabeth Warren, Jared Bernstein, and others: why weren’t these issues being raised earlier? Well, of course, they were. And, the aforementioned folks were the ones raising them.
So then, a follow-on question arises: why hasn’t the average viewer / reader seen or heard about these issues until just before our financial crash? The answer, it seems, lies with the changes in our media, our culture, and our government that have occurred over the last 30 years or so—the very changes to which the aforementioned folks and this book calls attention. And so, like Warren’s work on bankruptcy and Bernstein’s work on poverty, Russell’s work on social policy has remained largely “in the weeds.”
Published two years before the financial crash of 2008, Russell’s book nevertheless, then and now, becomes necessary reading.
On the surface, his investigation seemingly compares and contrasts social policy between the United States and Europe. Yet, when he delves into the “whys” of the differences between them, the reader sees one fundamental difference underlying all those other attending differences—one which Russell hermeneutically traces back in history to the United States’ formation and Europe’s feudal heritage.
A sociologist, Russell makes his analysis not only with points from other sociologists / economists—Durkheim, Weber, and Marx, but also indirectly with past philosophers—Plato, Aristotle, and Hobbes. Additionally, the various tables of statistics, (for each social policy area), should be enough to alarm any American citizen. Yet, given recent history, alarm itself would seem a surprise.
True to his field, Russell rather makes no frantic plea. Rather, as his exploration / investigation takes into account two to three courses of action or “directions,” he returns to these to simply offer the reader the likely and logical possibilities. Indeed, we, the readers of these facts, become the agents for change—or not.
My only true critiques of this book are picayune: no mention of “The East” for perspective, a now out-of-date relay of public education, (that, too, is under attack from “free market” privatization), and health care, (“Obamacare” or the Affordable Care Act has passed, and is, at least for now, “holding” in place as law. Again, these are picayune points.
Finally, Russell’s exploration is absorbing, striking, and thought-provoking. Simply, this book is a "Must Read." A "Must Read" which should spur action.
June 11, 2013
As far as policy books go, this is pretty good. While the writer certainly has his own bias and POV, it is a good, basic comparison of the social policies in the US and Europe, including health care, education, elder care, employment, incarceration, and family policies.
April 10, 2011
Interesting points by this author. While he seems to have an apparent bias while reading this, I would still recommend reading for different ways of thinking of things.
March 24, 2014
Interesting and accessible. Good for anyone who wants to learn about social policy in Europe and the U.S. and the historical and cultural reasons why it's so different.
August 24, 2016
Poorly written and poorly argued. There are also an embarrassing number of typos for a professionally published book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews