Description
Book SynopsisThis book explores the role of government in encouraging or deterring the claiming of welfare entitlements. It: compares the rhetoric of claimants' rights with the realities of information provision; uses the example of the increasingly complex social security system to consider the citizenship status of claimants; focuses on government policies rather than on psychological, attitudinal or deprivational explanations for levels of take-up; uses historical and contemporary evidence, including interviews with policy makers, to explore information policy. Promoting welfare? is aimed at all those who are concerned about poverty, social justice and citizenship including students and teachers of social policy, politics and public administration; politicians and policy makers; and service users, practitioners and welfare rights groups.
Trade Review"... Leonard presents compelling evidence that governments self-consciously use information as a tool in the service of political objectives ... a convincing narrative of government's failure to live up to its information obligations." Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory
"An important book. Leonard has produced a volume that will benefit all those, students and service users alike, concerned with the academic study and 'practice' of citizenship." Nick Ellison, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Durham, UK
Table of ContentsContents: Introduction; Citizenship; Information; Social democracy and information; The New Right and information; New Labour and information; Case study A: In-work benefits for low wage earners; Case study B: Means-tested benefits for older people; Information for citizenship?
