A Critical Study of a Citizen's Role Expectation in Policy of Community Welfare in Recent Years

Abstract

This study critically evaluates the expectations of local residents from recent community welfare policies by centering the argument around policy trends of Council of Social Welfare and policies formulated by the Japan National Council of Social Welfare. It is understood that the high expectations toward welfare activities among residents in small communities are a response to the changes in the social welfare system in 2000, which were undertaken, in order to service contractors that target high-class citizens, thus forcing local communities to deal with the low-income class that results from the system. In order to prove this point, the study refers to “social inclusion” advocated by the state as well as measures for tackling the issue of poverty.