Social Welfare
Year:2009 | Volume:9 | Issue:32|Papers Count:16

Objective: This study is going to show the inherent contradictions and logical results of welfare state regarding to classical attitudes and to list Popper’s theory of welfare state against these attitudes. Then the viewpoints of modem critics will be discussed and the response ability of each philosophical bases of welfare state will be tested. Then the following questions will be replied:1- how welfare will be realized in Popper’s view.2- what’s the theoretical base of making welfare state in Popper’s view.Method: this study has been done by referring to studies and documents in library.Findings: Bentham and Mill’s welfare theory has been based on providing more welfare for more people in society. Disagreed with these classic philosophers and agreed with M.Oakeshott and R.Nozick, Popper believes that determining any welfare for people is a great mistake that leads to autocratic governments and since it is too difficult to determine welfares for people in a society, there is no general agreement on it and most of them aren’t the same and sometimes they are even contradictory. But on the contrary with welfare state opponents, Popper doesn’t consider welfare state extermination as a solution, but provides a more reasonable solution. He believes that instead of increasing welfare for more people, avoidable suffering and stress should be decreased.Results: According to Popper, the state is a necessity, also he believes that the state should be authorized in some cases in order to cope with its welfare aims for society. While some philosophers such as Bentham and Mill expected the state to do a lot of duties but chanted slogan of reducing the state. Also this Popper’s view is against what hasn’t been considered by M.Oakeshott and R.Nozick. They believe in absolute freedom of human and consider no authority for the state. But according to Popper’s attitude, there are two basic problems: firstly, boundless freedom of human finally will lead to lack of freedom and secondly, some social problems such as poverty, contrast and discrimination win be increased. But Popper solution is more realistic and win decrease social problems by giving more authorities to the state. Finally Popper suggests Graduate Social Engineering to achieve welfare state aims which is a way to find and overcome more general and main problems of the society.

Objective: This paper aims to examine social welfare discourse in the pried of the reformist government in Iran. To do so we examine the discursive elements of President Khatami’s speeches in the years 1376-1384. We try to illuminate and interpret the discourse to find contextual in their socio-historical situation. This research is applicable and significant since it shows both and successes of the social welfare discourses examined. It is also theoretically considerable since it provides aground for comparison of similarities and differences of this discourse with its counterparts around the world.Method: This research is methodologically based on Michel Foucault’s and Norman Fairclough’s discourse analysis approaches. In this approach a discourse might be examined in three separate levels including describing, interpreting and explaining.Finding: Our research that the Reformist social welfare discourse examined has a very specific and clear orientation. The discourse has a certain notion of justice which is based on providing and promoting equal opportunities and insuring accessibility of all citizens to the opportunities. In addition, the reformist discourse analyzed shows that religion and freedom have major impacts on each other. Furthermore, there are Islamic and legal1imits on both of religion and freedom. This discourse emphasizes on sustainable and comprehensive development policy. In terms of politics, the discourse analyzed accentuates political participation and promotion of the political parties and groups activities. It also stresses on social security and protection of all citizens based on law and regulations. The reformist discourse emphasize on a complete system of social welfare and justice. As can be seen, the reformist discourse analyzed cannot be categorized and likened to one of the current prevalent social welfare discourses in the world such as the discourses of the liberal democratic, social democratic, neo right liberal and conservative discourse. The reformist discourse is different to those discourses since it has an Islamic nature. Given this religious and Islamic nature, the reformist discourse has a different sense and definition of justice, freedom and other social welfare elements.Results: Our examination shows that the reformist discoursed analyzed is oriented and highlighted comprehensive development, justice with religion and freedom and a humanistic approach to social welfare. The reformist discourse analyzed intended and aspired to change the power relations with full consideration of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Our research demonstrates that the reformist discourse analyzed is a very modern discourse of social welfare since it emphasises human development and considers human forces as the main sources of wealth and power. However, we should mention that the reformist discourse could not attract the attention of the poor and the lower classes though the academics and the elites celebrated it and it was appropriate to meet the needs and necessities of Iranian society.

Objective: Lake of comprehensive, strategic planning for reduction and control of octal problems in the country has always been a weak point in the national struggle again st social problems.The in am objective of this study was to produce a comprehensive national plan on the basis of maximal professional consensus among experts and beads of governmental organizations, for intervening to reduce and control social problems in the country.Methods: This was a qualitative study which was carried out In 4 stages, during which the first. second, third and fourth (final) drafts of the document were produced respectively, utilizing existing official information and expert viewpoints, during the process of several focus group discussions and Delphi procedures.Results: The final document consists of 10 parts: Introduction, definitions, goals, review of literature. situation analysis, challenges, policies and strategies. plans and projects, executive guideline, and national task division. The main goals of the document are: promotion of social welfare and quality of life of the population, reduction of the incidence and prevalence of social problems, and reduction of the harms secondary to them.The final document is a national plan with a muiti-sectoral approach, which has covered the issue of social problems from all possible aspects and therefore lacks any gaps or overlaps in task division among the different organizations involved.This national plan includes longterm goals, seeking the roots of social problems, as well as shortterm objectives aiming at more tangible and urgent needs.The “projects” are all In congruency with the “policies”, “goals”, and “strategies” of the national plan, which have themselves been derived through a SWOT (strengths, weakpoints, opportunities, threats) analysis.Discussion; The level of cooperation of experts from different branches of science and officials from different governmental and non-governmental organizations, was more than expected, and consistent throughout the process of the study, the former being even higher than the latter.There were also some concerns; such as the existing dominant “sectoral” approach in many participants and the higher tendency towards short4crm goals and outcomes in many others. Another Important concern Is that de~$te the fact that responsibilities have been assigned to non-governmental organizations throughout the present document, the role of such organizations in the actual structure of the national struggle against social problems Is undefined and thus apt to gradual disappearance if special attention and Intervention is not provided instantly for the issue.The authors recommend that the Mhiistry of Social Welfare and Security, on behalf of its mission and legal responsibility, and due to its core and key role in social aspects, take serious and effective steps for implementing this national plane.

Objective: Increases of population and Urbanization as an inclusive phenomenon, especially at the Metropolitans of Developed and Developing countries such an Iran, and problems spring from, had been caused that many of urban theoreticians consider to Citizen Participation at the Urban Affairs (CPUA). According to urban theories, citizen’s participation provides various benefits to both the individuals and organizations.In that present research, CPUA refers generally to citizen involvement in public decision making, planning, elects, Participation in Quarter affairs, obey Traffic orders, pay taxes and related fields.The purpose of study was to investigate the impact of social welfare on CPUA. Therefore, in this research, the theoretical frameworks dealing with the concepts of social welfare and participation (Habermas, Masslow, Frazer, Luhman, Brber, Driscol, Runciman, Davis, and Crosby), and previous empirical researches (Lee, Smith, Ekstrom, Rebori, Rose), have been scientifically studied.The main hypothesis derived from theoretical framework, is that social welfare (Material and Non material welfare) has a key role on CPUA.Method: This study used survey method. To measure dependent and independent variables, the data is gathered from 700 head families whom selected via Multistage sampling and then random sampling from 7 municipality zones in Isfahan city. It is worth mention, population statistic was 444552 head family (in the base of Census of Population and Housing in 2006).The collection instrument of data was Questionnaire, So that The response categories are on a six-point likert scale, ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’ (strongly agree, agree, some deal agree, some deal disagree, disagree and strongly disagree). Data analysis was performed using SPSS16 for windows and LISREL software.Findings: After doing the empirical test according to the data collected, results showed that the rate of CPUA was high and significant relationship between CPUA as a variable and independent variables (feeding of relative deprivation, Institutional trust, and Social satisfaction, health satisfaction, and material welfare) had been found out.Multiple regression models were constructed to determining predictors of CPUA. Result showed the rate of R adjust square equals %17. Namely we can say that 17 percent of variations of dependent variable, Explained by feeling of relative deprivation, institutional trust, and social satisfication. Other independent variables such a health satisfaction, and material welfare, excluded from regression model. Consequently, influence of institutional trust on dependent variable, had been more than other variables.Result: Result show whatever increases institutional trust, health Satisfaction, Social Satisfaction, and material welfare and decreases feeling of relative deprivation In short, institutional trust is a key point at predict citizen’s participation. Therefore policy makers could influence to citizens and caused them to CPUA in the condition that attract people trust previously.

Objective: In the new social welfare, issues of social capital have been important and are very necessary, because today not only social welfare can not simply available and can not be guaranteed by direct economic and material components, but in addition the resources of social society including social capital of different groups of people must be mobilized. Several experimental findings are emphasized on the importance of social capital at promoting level of development and welfare of communities. Studies show that the areas or countries with the relatively high storage of social capital (according to generalized trust and civil commitment) obtain higher levels of growth compared with the societies with lower trust and low civil commitment. In this study, the collective social capital approach in which social capital is defined as collective assets that leads to the effects and the consequences through orientation to collective (Putnam theory) due to its authenticity to the subject of research, approved as the theoretical framework in relation of explanation and analysis of social welfare situation.In this research social capital, as Putnam defined, is studied as a collective asset. Therefore, conceptual elements of social capital considered as a set of cognitive and subjective dimensions which formed social trust and social norms in the behavior in social network which totally formed the social capital components. The average scores of these three components has been considered as social capital scores. Also in relation of social welfare, the combination of individual's social welfare (Bentham theory) that their indicators proposed by social statistics center of Euroup, approved for measurement in this research.The general hypothesis is that: social has a positive impact on social walfare, any higher amount of capital leads to higher amount of social welfare. In addition to the general hypothesis, some other hypothesis as especial forms of relationships between variables such as individual trust, generalized trust, institutionalized trust, social solidarity, cooperation, social support, formal participation, informal participation, amount and variety of relationships are measured.Method: The methodology of this research is survey and questionnaire is used for data gathering. Statistical community of research are all households residing in tehran and statistical unit of the research is the head of family. Sample sizeare 299 eases that selected by cluster sampling.Findings and Results: The results of research as generally indicate the approval of hypothesis and research expectations about the role social capital in increasing of social welfare.As results of the statistical analysis show the social capital impact has positive impact on social welfare, that is, any higher amount which social capital may be, the rate of social welfare will be higher. Also all the Indices considered for social capital (such as trust, social norms, and social network) have a positive impact on social welfare, these results are consistent with Putnam theories.The research shows that some indicators of social capital which have better situation in research community have a more relationship with traditional aspects of society such as religious informal participation and charity affairs, and some indicators that are consistent with modem life such as modem social capital institutional trust, generalized trust, solidarity and formal participation) are not in a desirable situation.

Objectives: This research administered with the aim of study the mediator role of attitudes toward welfare development, population needed to welfare, supportive and helping welfare services and welfare policies in relation between empathy and social interest with approaches to social justice in students of Isfahan university.Method: Statistical population of research were the total students of lsfahan university in fall term of 86-87 year.297 students selected for answer to research questionnaires with using random sampling method. Research questionnaires were: Attitudes toward social welfare with four subscales named welfare development, population needed to welfare, supportive and helping welfare services and welfare policies (total of item were 28), empathy questionnaire with 33 items, social interest questionnaire with 32 items and a questionnaire of approaches to social justice with 9 items. Data analyzed with the use of correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling (SEM).Findings: Analyses of data showed that attitude toward welfare development play mediator role in relation between Social interest with equality approach to social justice. Attitudes toward population needed to welfare play mediator role in relation between social interest with need approach to social justice, attitudes toward supportive and helping welfare services was mediator variable in relation between empathy and equity approach to social justice and finally welfare policies was the mediator variable in relation between empathy and social interest with need approach to social justice.Results: finding of this research revealed that welfare development only play the role of mediator variable for equality approach to justice, and population needed to welfare only play the role of mediator variable for relation between need and social interest. But in relation between equity with empathy, attitudes toward supportive and helping welfare services play the mediator role and welfare policies only play the mediator role in relation between need approach to social justice with empathy and social interest.

Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate the rate of awareness and satisfaction of people under the social security insurance after the execution of records improvement scheme in the city of Kashan during the years 2004 to 2005.Method: To achieve this end, a descriptive survey design was utilized. All the individual who benefited from the social security insurance in Kashan comprised the intended target population from which 300 participants were randomly selected. The research instrument was a researcher developed questionnaire consisting of 23 close-ended questions. A five-point likert scale was used for rating the responses. Chronbach's alpha coefficient formula was used for calculating both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. The validity of the questionnair which happened to be 0.98.The former measured frequency, percentile and values while the latter enlisted such statistical techniques as one-variable t-test, independent t-test. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), tukey test and pearson product moment formula.Finding: The findings revealed that the rate of awarness and satisfaction of the insured individuals were above the average refenence level at the p-level of 0.01 .The results of the tukey test indicated that the rate of satisfaction and awareness of the participants with an associate degree or higher level certificates was more than those with lower level degree. The responses also differed significantly according to the length of insurance record. In fact, individuals with an insurance record of above 21 years showed a greater rate of awareness and satisfaction compared with those whose insurance record won below 10, 11 and 20 years. In the some view, individuals with an insurance record of 41 years possessed higher rates of awareness and satisfaction in compared with those with insurance records below 40, 31 and 30 years. Finally, comparing awareness and satisfaction average values revealed that the participants' responses differed significantly according to sex. Overall, the rate of awareness and satisfaction for male participants was higher than that of females.Results: According to the findings, factors such as insurance record, sex and level of certificates have a positive relation with the rate of satisfaction and awareness of insured individuals. Also there is a positive relation between the rate of satisfaction and awareness, that means the higher degree of satisfaction arrive at the higher of awareness.

Objective: social well-being is the appraisal of one's circumstances and functioning in society. The aim of the present study was to develop the short form of one of the most widely used social well-being scales (developed bye Keyes, 1998) to be used in Iranian samples. Short forms are more useful when there are time limits or participants lack patience. The development of the short form of the social well-being scale was intended to be based on the improvement of the factorial validity of the subscales.Method: Four hundred and fifty four students (261 girls and 193boys) of Tehran University were included. The mean age was 22.18. All students were asked to complete Keyes' 33-item social well-being scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to analyze the data.Findings and Results: The use of 18 items of the social well-being scale as the Persian short form of social well-being scale was supported by the analyses. All in all, results of this study indicated that the Persian short form of social wellbeing scale has an acceptable and clear factor structure and its statistical characteristics are better than the long form.