A New Paradigm for Implementing the Concept of the Welfare State in the Context of Globalization

Abstract

The formation and strengthening of the welfare state required the theoretical development of conceptual foundations, a set of policy measures, and their implementation by all stakeholders. “The concept of the welfare state, which emerged in the 20th century, is experiencing a crisis in many countries and cannot provide an increase in welfare ... Many previous models and factors of economic development are practically exhausted. In many countries, the concept of the welfare state, which emerged in the 20th century, is also in crisis. Today, not only can it not ensure a steady growth in well-being, but sometimes even keep it at the same level,” the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin said at the opening of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. The need to create a new concept of the welfare state in the Russian Federation at the beginning of the XXI century was associated with the fact that the country’s population began to advocate for the implementation of an active state policy that meets the principles and essence of the welfare state. It was also necessary to harmonize and bring closer the domestic legislation and socio-economic practice with the experience and regulatory systems of the CIS countries, EurAsEC, European countries participating in international treaties. The development of the concept of the welfare state in the Russian Federation was carried out by a well-known group of scientists and practitioners in Russia based on the Academy of Labor and Social Relations. The concept of a welfare state, created by this group, which included the authors of the article, was discussed at the Expert Council of the IPA EurAsEC. The program was approved by the participants of the conference organized at the Academy by the decision of the organizing committee in 2004. The draft Concept of the welfare state of the Russian Federation has been supplemented and corrected in accordance with the suggestions and comments of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Education, Social Insurance Fund, Pension Fund, Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, as well as participants in thematic conferences and round tables. However, the active processes of globalization have led to the need not only to introduce simple changes to the existing concept of the welfare state, and also propose its new paradigm for subsequent wide public discussion.