In 1984 “Contradictions of the Modern Welfare State” was written by Offe in the stages of early Thatcherism, provides the differences between left and right critique of the welfare state. From my perspective Offe’s writing is very opinion based, he forecasts future events and claims the right sees the welfare state as “the illness of what pretends to be the cure” which undermines work incentives and causes a disincentive to work, may have some validity. During the 1970s it caused contradictions and political divisions no longer serving as the major peace method for advanced capitalist democracies. The right however is unable to prove “advanced capitalism minus the welfare state” is workable, and from my view were unable to come up with a promising political strategy to eliminate it. Whereas the author suggests the left criticise the social interventions being too late, ineffective, repressive and serving as a political-ideological control function. As both sides criticise, Offe critiques “that while capitalism cannot exist with, neither can it exist without, the welfare state.” The chapter analyses political view points and theory insights into potential problems although I found it difficult to assess the author’s personal solutions, which is clear with him concluding with a question.
Nearly 20 years later Gooby wrote “Welfare Reforms in the UK” I understood it to explore the historical fundamental differences of changes in the welfare state. This was instigated by the changes in Conservative and Labour policies, both arguing towards more liberal based agenda. With the changes in policy I found both parties having divergent views, however merging these in order to gain maximum electoral support. This is supported with Gooby’s case of the Labour side lining the trade unions and their modification of Clause 4 which “embraced the enterprise of the market.” . Gooby argues there are fewer constraints on the executive, due to recent reforms causing a high...