The concept of poverty
During industrialization in the 16th century, poverty perceptions undergo a series of changes. The feudal system, a set of social and political alliances between the workers and landowners, was the dominant social and political order. Since peasants were tied to the land and its owner, work was the only way to survive. Few incentives were to accumulate wealth; hence, poverty meant to starve and threatened everyone in time of duress. But the poverty held little stigma and remained separated from judgments regarding morality. Some programs available were designed to help the genuinely destitute and were commonly funded by private donations and are managed by the church.
In the early 1500s, the Western Europeans converged into mercantilism wherein trade materialized which subsequently created more wealth and financed armies and navies. Enlightenment followed mercantilism. This order took the form of value change and encouraged accumulation of wealth and private property while changing the attitudes towards poverty. The value shift introduced the concept of individualism and personal responsibility.
The influential thinkers emphasized handwork, individual initiative, liberty and the power of reason. Arguably, poverty suggested that the root cause of poverty purports those who are lazy, sexually loose and generally immoral. This concept became commonly held among the European elites. The correlation of the economic status and the (immorality serves as the basis of development of welfare programs. Poignantly, the system reflects dependency, laziness and personal irresponsibility.
Economic instability commonly characterized the Enclosure Movement. Such condition placed a great pressure on the society. Then, the religion failed to protect the landless peasants. As a result tramps, vagrants and beggars grew in number. The attempt to restore the social order led to the passing of poor laws. The English Poor Law (1601-1834) echoed the voice of the less well-offs. The law reflected attitudes and values regarding poverty and it serve as an instrument of social control. The elements of the ELL were the local administration, less eligibility, classification of the poor, relative responsibility and residence requirements.
The concept of local administrations reflected general suspicion towards the poor. Less eligibility stated that relief should not be more than the available lowest wages. Furthermore, poor are classified based on two kinds of relief, indoor and outdoor. The relative responsibility focused on the role of the family. Public relief will only be available if the family cannot provide for the person. The context of residence requirement was responsible for those who are legitimate members of the local community.
The modern concept of poverty is related by Susana Franco (2003). According to Franco, ‘poverty has multiple dimensions and policy-makers must consider such dimensions in effectively assessing poverty’ (p. 27). Franco defined poverty based on four domains: monetary, capability, social exclusion and participatory.
Monetary poverty deals with the imbalance between the socio-economic characteristics of individuals and households. Capability poverty considers the measure of literacy including the completion for primary and secondary educations. Health poverty is indicated by individuals: who are suffering from illness, who are affected by an illness and whose illness was so severe that s/he can no longer work. In connection, some individuals may and may not report regarding their health conditions. Moreover, employment, insurance, pension, credit, savings, social programmers and land ownership are the indicators of social exclusion poverty (pp. 6-12).
These constructs might overlap and combine. The degree of overlap may further be regarded due to dependency ratio and the education and employment of the household heads (p. 14).
The concept of independent laborers
Civil society was a concept of natural and self-regulating order of independent laborers. However, the concept was increasingly damaged by the inequality and domination (1998). The condition of the pauper class is elevated above the condition of the laboring class, thus, the condition of the independent laborers is depressed, their industry is impaired and their employment becomes unstable and their remuneration in wages is diminished (Poor Law report, 1834).
Hence, independent laborers are subjected to extensive inducements to quit the less eligible class and enter a more eligible class of paupers. The standard regarding those who are to be maintained by the public, therefore, refers to the condition of those who can be maintained by their own exertions. Meaning, the poverty invokes people to accept a pauper life or else they must strive in order to survive (Poor Law report, 1834).
This circumstance depicts a loose and imperfect situation the independent laborer has been forced into. Evidences also show that those who award and distribute relief knew very little or nothing at all about the conditions of the independent laborers. Other conditions which prevail during this period proved that their situation limits the supply of commodities, the diet of the workhouses exceeded that of the cottage and the diet of the goal is more profuse than that of the workhouses (Poor Law report, 1834).
Such standard seemingly referred to the exaction of Labour wherein the work required from the paupers proves inferior to that performed by the laborers. These defects I the existing system led to different actions by both the paupers and the independent laborers (Poor Law report, 1834). Given the situation, poor relief and the establishment of workhouses was set as the primary anti-poverty strategy of the government.
Throughout the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the independent laborers were highly-regarded as the dangerous class. The continuous evolution of policies and regulations controlled and pacified the peasants and laborers. A series of uprisings burdened the government.
The concept of State intervention in welfare
The evolution of welfare is a dynamic process which adjusts in theory and practice towards historical changes in political, social and individuals constructs. The exercise of power to promote welfare depended on the attitudes regarding the extent of intervention, the areas to intervene and State’s definition of “welfare”. Nonetheless, the State intervention on welfare was founded on the philosophies of ultimate goals, the degree of intervention and the elements of coercion or restriction of the rights of the individual (as cited in Douglas, 1989, p. 152). Evidently, as Douglas believed, there is a great continuity.
Social welfare in the 20th century depict romanticism – “sentimental melancholy towards dignity and rights of the individual”, humanism – “ultimate ethical premise of the greatest happiness for the greatest number” and functionalism – “assurance of society’s survival, stability and well-being” (2002, p. 236). These elements were used to justify State’s intervention efforts.
Conversely, state intervention should also promote social cohesion, integration and inclusion by virtue of equality, freedom and security. Pensions and insurance programs flooded the period along with workmen wages and compensation. The following years contributed to the re-conceptualization of social welfare programs due to massive destruction and high cost of human life lost brought by the First World War (opera citato).
Explanation
Poverty evolves as new social, political and economic changes arise. Dominant political and social orders within a specific period connote different treatment towards the laboring class. Whether regarded as laborers, workers or peasants, the attitudes and judgments of the elites and the well-offs regarding this individuals dictates the condition of the society somehow which lead in the formulation and implementation of poor laws.
The fear of losing wealth and social position made the situation even worse. Laborers are then subjected to several compliances coercible, and if not, they have to survive on their own. The punitive measures are manifested in the creation of poor relief's, workhouses, alms-houses and other institutions. For these laborers, the only way to survive, get away with paupers and elevate themselves form poverty is to work, work and work.
Such poverty strategies mirrored the concept that poverty is an (immoral virtue. Impliedly, this concept triggered needs to be realized including social inclusion. The independent laborers thrive towards social acceptance through obeying the rules which they later found certain loopholes in the system. Essentially, having a good grasp of what poverty is from the independent laborers’ point of view can lead to the understanding of independent laborers’ whereabouts, sentiments, concerns and issues.
Assessments
Social, political and economic changes drive welfare changes and State intervention. These can be elaborated through the manner and measures of state intervention, the degree of intervention and center of intervention. Year Aaron specified that when the environment is changing, the authorities initiate radical changes in public policy. The primary role of the government is to build consensus among different interest groups and factions (p. 1) and depict not only economic but also political processes. The motivation is, perhaps, the protectionism through social programs (1997.
As believed by social programs should contribute to the economic development. The modern social programs are more concern on remedial and maintenance activities (1997) where, in fact, the purpose of these social interventions is to provide and sustain individual and communal development. He even stated that programs should generate rates of return to government social expenditures. Productivity programs have been introduced as a coherent approach in social welfare.
Quite simply, as the gap between the rich and the poor widens, the more the society and the government requires control. The worsening situation of the poor calls for more attention and, thus,
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