Contesting Social Welfare in Southeast Asia

This Element argues that Southeast Asia's failure to develop stronger social protection systems has been, at its root, a matter of politics and power. It has reflected the political dominance within the region of predatory and technocratic elements, and the relative weakness of progressive elements. From the mid-1980s, democratisation, the emergence of political entrepreneurs seeking to mobilise mass electoral support, and the occurrence of severe economic and social crises generated pressure on governments within the region to strengthen their social protection systems. But while such developments shifted policy in a more progressive direction, they have been insufficient to produce far-reaching change. Rather, they have produced a layering effect. Innovations have built upon pre-existing policy and institutional arrangements without fundamentally altering these arrangements, ensuring that social protection systems continue to have strong conservative, productivist and predatory attributes.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. The evolution of social protection in Southeast Asia; 3. Theoretical considerations; 4. Actors, interests and agendas; 5. Indonesia; 6. The Philippines; 7. Thailand; 8. Malaysia; 9. Conclusion; Appendix: timeline of major social protection developments; References.

Summary

This Element reflects Southeast Asia's political dominance within predatory and technocratic elements and the relative weakness of progressive elements. Innovations without fundamentally altering the pre-existing arrangements ensures that social protection systems continue to have strong conservative, productivist and predatory attributes.

Foreword

This Element explains the diverse welfare systems developed by Southeast Asian countries in terms of competing social and political forces.

Product details

• Authors: John Murphy, Andrew Rosser, Andrew (University of Melbourne) Murphy Rosser, Rosser Andrew
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.07.2023
• EAN: 9781108814362
• ISBN: 978-1-108-81436-2
• No. of pages: 75
• Series: Elements in Politics and Society in Southeast Asia
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Economy, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Development / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Human Services, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Developing & Emerging Countries, South East Asia, Social welfare & social services, Political Economy, Social welfare and social services, Development Studies