What is in a Word? Universalism, Ideology and Practice

Stefánsson, Kolbeinn

doi:10.4337/9781849805940.00008

Cited by 13 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…These studies recognise that universalism is a contested and 'polysemic' concept (Stefánsson 2012), and that it is 'an ideal type that is always beyond reach' (Anttonen et al 2012: 187). Their findings, taken together, suggest complex patterns of achievement ('universalisation') and reversal ('de-universalisation') in many policy domains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nordic eldercare – Weak universalism becoming weaker?

Szebehely

Meagher

2017

Journal of European Social Policy

162

108

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This paper builds on recent research on the fortunes of universalism in European social policy by tracing the development of eldercare policy in four Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Six dimensions of universalism are used to assess whether and how eldercare has been universalised or de-universalised in each country in recent decades and the consequences of the trends thereby identified. We find that de-universalisation has occurred in all four countries, but more so in Finland and Sweden than in Denmark and Norway. Available data show an increase in forprofit provision of publicly funded care services (via policies promoting service marketisation), and an increase of family care (re-familialisation) as well of services, paid out-of-pocket (privatisation).These changes have occurred without an explicit attack on universalism or retrenchment of formal rights but are threatening the class-and gender-equalising potential of Nordic welfare states.2

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nordic eldercare – Weak universalism becoming weaker?

Szebehely

Meagher

2017

Journal of European Social Policy

162

108

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“…Disability policies in education and employment as well as in social protection are characterized by paradoxical universalism and dilemmas resulting from disability classification and categories that often stigmatize individuals and groups even as they benefit from targeted policies and programs. Universalism is a polysemic concept having contrasting meanings within the academic field of social policy research (Stefánsson, 2012). Indeed, recent research proposes to acknowledge and investigate "varieties of universalism" (Anttonen & Sipilä, 2014, p. 3) or to use the paradoxical term "universalisms" (Künzler & Nollert, 2017, p. 9).…”

Section: Paradoxical Universalism and Dilemmas Of Disability Classificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competing Institutional Logics and Paradoxical Universalism: School-to-Work Transitions of Disabled Youth in Switzerland and the United States

Tschanz

Powell

2020

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<p class="Default">Disablement is a complex social phenomenon in contemporary societies, reflected in disability policies oriented towards contrasting paradigms. Fraught with ambivalence, disability raises dilemmas of classification and targeted supports. Paradoxical universalism emphasizes that to achieve universality requires recognizing individual dis/abilities and particular contextual conditions and barriers that disable. Myriad aspects of educational and disability policies challenge both conceptualization and realization of universal policies, such as compulsory schooling, with widespread exclusion or segregation prevalent. Resulting tensions between providing support and ubiquitous stigmatization and separation are endemic, and particularly evident during life course transitions that imply shifting memberships in institutions and organizations. Particularly visible among disabled youth, school-to-work transitions are fundamentally challenged by contrasting policies, institutional logics, and institutionalized organizations. Analyzing institutional logics facilitates understanding of the lack of coordination that hinders successful transitions. Examining such challenges in the United States and Switzerland, we compare their labor markets and federal governance structures and contrasting education, welfare, and employment systems. Whereas lacking inter-institutional coordination negatively impacts disabled young adults in the United States, Switzerland’s robust vocational education and training system, while not a panacea, does provide more coordinated support during school-to-work transitions. These two countries provide relevant cases to examine ambivalence and contestation around the human right to inclusive education as well as the universality of the right (not) to work.</p>

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“…Universalism has been a notoriously slippery concept in the social policy literature, which has led some researchers to discuss 'varieties of universalism' (e.g. Stefánsson et al, 2012). However, there is consensus regarding the core primitive notion (Lukes, 2005, 30) lying behind discussions of universalism.…”

Section: Universalism As a Family-resemblance Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of welfare state universalism on migrant integration

Kevins

Kersbergen

2019

Policy &Amp; Politics

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This paper investigates how and why welfare state universalism can shape the integration of migrants into the national community. Universalism is broadly regarded as central to the integrative and solidarity-building potential of welfare states, but we argue that the traditional approach to understanding the concept is fraught with inconsistencies. Rather than comparing welfare states using the classical universalist-selectivist dichotomy, we suggest that they should be thought of as embodying various 'packages' of universalist traits-all of which are unified by their connection to a core, self-sustaining logic of solidarity. A comparison of Canadian and Danish universalism allows us to draw out how (indiscriminate/selectivist) 'community perks' traits and (inclusive/exclusive) 'community scope' ones may interact in unexpected ways. This, in turn, helps us better understand how and why 'classically universalist' Denmark is facing threats to solidarity and migrant integration that are much more intense than those found in 'classically selectivist' Canada.

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What is in a Word? Universalism, Ideology and Practice

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Nordic eldercare – Weak universalism becoming weaker?

Nordic eldercare – Weak universalism becoming weaker?

Competing Institutional Logics and Paradoxical Universalism: School-to-Work Transitions of Disabled Youth in Switzerland and the United States

The effects of welfare state universalism on migrant integration

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