Writings on the Welfare State from an Anarchist or Marxist Perspective

Submitted by potrokin on November 7, 2016

Hi folks, my anarchist girlfriend is looking for anarchist or marxist reading material on the welfare state and possible alternatives. Can any of you help?

Hiroshima

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Hiroshima on November 7, 2016

hi there - in German language.
http://kosmoprolet.org/moloch-und-heilsbringer-zur-geschichte-und-kritik-des-sozialstaats

potrokin

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by potrokin on November 8, 2016

Thankyou, but unfortunately neither of us can read German.

Hiroshima

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Hiroshima on November 8, 2016

The German text published in 2016 is a universal account, because taking a marxist perspective you cannot discuss the British or any other national model in isolation. The crisis of the welfare state is long going and you may start out with this piece. Contradictions of the Welfare State by Claus Offe.

https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/contradictions-welfare-state

Hiroshima

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Hiroshima on November 8, 2016

I found it online "..the vision of
overcoming the welfare state and resurrecting a 'healthy' market
economy is not much more than the politically impotent day-dream
of some Ideologues of the old middle class. "

https://laelectrodomestica.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/offe-claus-contradictions-of-the-welfare-state.pdf

Khawaga

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Khawaga on November 8, 2016

Hmm, I am pretty sure someone else asked a very similar question a few years back. I couldn't find it through the search function, however.

Khawaga

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Khawaga on November 8, 2016

Yeah, that may be it.

yourmum

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by yourmum on November 8, 2016

http://www.ruthlesscriticism.com/welfare_state.htm

potrokin

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by potrokin on November 8, 2016

Thankyou guys, so nice of you to help. Very useful :)

Steven.

7 years 4 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Steven. on November 16, 2016

We had a previous short thread on this here: https://libcom.org/forums/theory/criticism-welfare-state-17102011

Here are some other links
UK ultraleft critique of the welfare state, looking at its origins in the social programs of the dictator Bismarck: http://libcom.org/library/welfare-state-isn%E2%80%99t-now-never-was-%E2%80%9Cgenuine-gain-working-class%E2%80%9D

Article about the view of anarchists on the rise of the welfare state in the US with the New Deal: https://libcom.org/library/anarchists-rise-welfare-state

A personal account/analysis from a worker in legal aid:
https://libcom.org/library/reflections-work-legal-aid-welfare-state

if someone could post that Ruthless Criticism article up in the library here it would be much appreciated!