Political Theory and Social Policy

At the root of most discussions about social policy lies the question: to what extent should the state assume responsibility for the welfare of its citizens?

In order to answer this question, Albert Weale examines the principles to which an answer to this question may be formulated. Any adequate normative theory of politics, he argues, must offer principles which can be publicly debated, defended and respected. From an examination of the concepts most frequently proposed as the goals of education—equality, efficiency and social need—Weale argues that none of these can be used as sufficient justification for government policy.

Governments also pursue other objectives, involving the allocation of material benefits above the minimum required for autonomy. Albert Weale develops a normative theory which provides a method for comparing the relative importance of the various objectives.