新自由主義の限界と福祉国家の可能性(新自由主義と現代社会の危機,第53回大会共通論題)

抄録

Social crises like employment crisis, huge budget deficits, distrust of old-age pension and health service system, serious stagnation of countryside economies, and weakening of family are strongly correlated with economic and social policies based on neo-liberal ideology which gained power in countries like the U K and the U S in 1980' but is now outdated and unsuitable to present problems in many countries like Japan. We must deal with such problems by economic and social policies which are based on reflexive pro-welfare state idea. We previously criticized influential theories that welfare state systems have been dismantled with transformation of capitalist economies in advanced countries. On the other hand, the views are gaining ground that welfare state system has not been dismantled but has no good prospect as effective and justified social system. The following evidences are often offered to support such a view. Globalization is undermining the capacity of the interventionist and revenue-raising welfare state. Since Keynesianism is held no longer to work, welfare state lacks its own viable political economy for managing economic life. There are some truths in such views, but they are just looking at one side of the matter because they lack exact understanding what welfare state systems have developed until now. Recently, many people discuss civil society. The revival of concept of civil society is connected with rises of democratic struggles against totalitarian socialist regimes in East European countries and new social movements in the West (civil movements of black people, student and youth movements, feminist movements, peace and ecology movements). We consider how the concept of civil society makes discussions of the welfare state system productive and expands potentiality of present welfare state systems by analyzing civil society notions of leading scholars (John Keane, Jean L. Cohen and Michael Walzer). We argue that the claim that welfare state has impoverished the relations of civil society is not confirmed by an investigation into various welfare state systems. We perceive the fundamental distinction between universal and means-tested social policy measures. Universal welfare programs in Sweden cannot be seen as subversive of civil society as compared with selective social programs in the United States. We must reform welfare state systems based on the economic, political and moral logic of the welfare state. Institutions matter for great possibilities in welfare state. If citizens believe that welfare policy goals are legitimate, welfare policy is carried out in a fair manner, all citizens bear their share of the costs of a given policy, they are likely to support welfare state. We must take account of this perspective on local decentralization reforms and tax reforms. We must reform welfare state systems based on fundamental changes of economic and social systems. These changes include globalization of economy, the changing role of women, new changed relations between citizens and state. We must transform the welfare state from a safety net in times of trouble to a springboard for economic opportunity. The principal duties of a new welfare state are to promote lifelong learning, to support full employment in a modern economy and to underpin present social security.