Full Description
Colonial State and Social Policy looks at the determinants of social policy in developing countries in general and Hong Kong in particular in an attempt to remedy inconsistent results, artificial dichotomies of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and an obvious neglect of developing countries in the field of social policy research. Using an integrated approach of quantitative and historical analysis, the study tests out the variables as predicted by the dominant theories in the case of Hong Kong. Of the three major theoretical approaches that dominate research, the industrial society approach, the social democratic model, and the state centered theory, the state centered theory offers the best explanation of policy development. Meanwhile, historical analysis delineates four phases of social development which are marked by different approaches: residualism, "big bang" expansion, incrementalism, and privatization. The results of the study cast many doubts on the applicability of the concept of the "welfare-state regime," as the developmentalist state of Hong Kong has turned to social welfare to create a peaceful environment for its economic development and to enhance the legitimacy of the colonial system.
Contents
Chapter 1 Explaining Social Policy Development Chapter 2 Empirical Validation of Comparative Social Policy Theories Chapter 3 Explaining Social Policy Chapter 4 Development in Hong Kong Chapter 5 Four Phases of Social Policy Development Chapter 6 Big Bang Expansion and Incrementalism Chapter 7 Privatization in Hong Kong Chapter 8 A Synthesis of Qualitative and Quantitative Findings Chapter 9 Conclusions and Implications Chapter 10 Appendix Chapter 11 Bibliography Chapter 12 Index
