Is there an extended family of Mediterranean welfare states?

Abstract

The goal of this article is to suggest that an extended family of Mediterranean welfare states exists and that it consists of eight different nations, some of which have been ignored in the ongoing discourse on Mediterranean welfare states. More specifically, it is claimed that the extended family of Mediterranean welfare states includes Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. The article underscores a number of features common to members of this extended family of welfare states. Finally, three overarching themes that, in the past and present, appear to underlie the commonalities of Mediterranean welfare states and that can offer potential fruitful avenues for further study will be identified and discussed. These are religion, family and the role of clientelist-particularist relations in the structuring and functioning of welfare state institutions.

La atención a las personas en situación de dependencia como yacimiento de empleo en tiempos de crisis: el caso español

“…Se trata de un modelo en el que los dualismos, la fragmentación y la ineficiencia social de sus sistemas de protección han caracterizado al Estado como benefactor con un bajo gasto público en protección social (Ferrera, 1996;Gal, 2010).…”

The 'Arc of Prosperity' Revisited: Homelessness Policy Change in North Western Europe

“…Esping-Andersen's analysis did not incorporate the Southern European nations and was completed before the post-communist Eastern European nations became integrated into European social policy, but scholars have subsequently sought to address these issues (e.g. Deacon, 2000;Ferrera, 1996;Gal, 2010). Our three countries diverge in their welfare state regime categorisation.…”

Social services, welfare states and places: an overview

“…It was first conceptualised by Ferrera (1996) and further elaborated by others (see Gal, 2010 for a review). It was characterised by a distinct mix of features: 13 relatively recent democratisation and industrialisation, weak state traditions (with relatively inefficient -often clientelistic -bureaucracies), a 'Bismarckian' model of social insurance, a historically residual role of the state in social assistance and only recent public engagement in developing modern welfare provisions (Ferrera, 1996).…”

“…The Familistic or Mediterranean family (Italy, 12 Spain, Portugal, Greece, with the possible addition of Malta, Cyprus and Israel; see Gal, 2010 for a discussion on this) was added later to the taxonomy. It was first conceptualised by Ferrera (1996) and further elaborated by others (see Gal, 2010 for a review).…”