An Examination of the Challenges that Shaped the Approaches to Welfare Provision in Western Europe Post 1945
The current social provisions of Western Europe are the products of years’ changes that started out during the earlier formation of their society. The values, norms, and ways that are being practiced by the people already show how they managed to evolve with their traditions and views over the years and how they have passed it down through generations as they continue.. (1999) has pointed out that historical account of European societal evolution formed their norms and mores, thus, continue to be held and practiced even today. History has provided that many countries in the area are very likely to have focused their wares and products accordingly, exchanged with others, also delegating the social interaction of the country and also affecting the decisions of the simple people who are within the system.
When studying the provisions for the laborers, workers, and indeed the citizens of a particular country, the historical accounts and backgrounds of how they came up with these decisions are needed to be included in the studies in an effort to see how they came up with the rationalization, moreover, to be able to compare the changes that have occurred over the years. Indeed, (1999) along with a number of other historical writers (, 1991; , 1997) have also founded that the current social prospects of European welfare are based on the current economy and also have continued to generate changes over the years, especially with the onset of industrialization and also with the focus on the different economical methods that have demanded specialization within their people.
However, while the historical accounts and methods may have served their purpose in providing changes in the social welfare of the people, it cannot be denied that the recent events of the most recent World War II has provided some great changes in the perspectives of the people and also with the welfare methods that the government offer. These changes may be based on different ideas that came up as well as some enlightenment on different circumstances and situations that the people may be facing over the years. Here, the discussion mainly focused on the changes that the social welfare has faced over the years especially with the post-war accounts. There have been several challenges and factors these services have faced and therefore the development of the viewpoint of the people and the workers have continued to be part of these changes.
Definition of the Welfare Provisions
Welfare provisions are very likely to be focused on the different requirements and needs of the receivers, especially if economic constrictions are affecting the basic necessities of the people. There are several involved parts in the services that can be given to the receivers and these may vary according to the country and the regulations that are currently prevailing in the country. (1997) pointed out that time has managed to show the changes in the responses of the government to the provisions over the years and that they reflect the findings that the people and the researchers of the social implications have managed to give. It was provided, however, that the welfare of the people are also based on the geographical distribution within the country and also based on the configuration of the previous laws that were in effect within the said country. It should be acknowledged that, despite the similarities in some of the countries’ practices and probably in some cultural aspects, yet there are some problems in the ways that they may view their practices.
The welfare provisions in Western Europe began in earnest with the onset of industrialization which was also explained to have also helped with the “chipping away of the edges” () with regards to the treatments and the determinants that will allow for the treatment methods and benefits that the workers may receive along with their salaries in exchange for the contributions they have made for the company. At the same time, Western Europe has continued to be one of the most active regions in the world in providing their healthcare services and the provisions for their workers in an effort to ensure that they will be given attention to (, 1999: ). However, it can be seen that the changes in the values and the perceptions on the specifications like the gender views and the nuclear unit of the family has managed to influence the changes in the social provisions. These are not necessarily viewed as improvements, rather as another step towards a society from which the head organization have different ideas that have evolved from the scientific studies and observations on the entire idea.
Economic and Political Trends
After the initial years of industrialization, there have been more studies that have focused on the different ideas that may be helpful for the various backgrounds of the people especially with the changes that they have been facing over the years. The circumstances that the people have found themselves are also the result of the changes in the practices and the values over time, and thus may also be the factor of the exchange and relationships of communities and the people with other places. (1997) has pointed out that the trends of changes in Europe are primarily affected by the relationship that the country has with other countries and communities, thus, also affecting the exchange of products, ideas and also education. It can be seen that education is one of the primary methods of changes in several countries especially with the determination of some ideas to persist and to topple over the other previous ideas. These decisions can be used for the changes on the regulations and legislations that the country has, and these changes may also bring about several other effects such as conflict between the two groups. It is stated also that the changes in the Western European ideas during the mid 20th Century are in effect a mix between the political and economic changes that have occurred within the countries (). Indeed, it can be seen that most of the policies that have brought about the perspectives of the people within Europe is mostly engaged in the context of their political and historical relationships therefore also dictating the ideas and what they currently have today (, 2002), and not only affects their relationship with other countries within Western Europe but also involves their association with countries within other parts of Europe and other regions, while also showing the changes and developments of the different organizations that are involved.
These political and economical changes have also brought about industrialization and brought about many ideas concerning the ways that the people are to be given care of (, 1991). Industrial policies have also continued to vary all over the European countries and are contrasted by their approach to their ideas. In contrast, the United Kingdom was one of the countries that was hit and had to catch up in the lag with regards to rebuilding after the war, while also trying to serve the labor force despite the problems that the economy was facing. It was after the war that these perspectives had high differences with the other countries due to the sluggish growth of their economy and lack of exchange with regards to the labor and the effects of the war. The Labor practices were continued to be in question and therefore had to come up with ideas that may help with the improvement of their economy (, 1991). Other countries such as Sweden and Germany also have their problems after the war that continued to persist over time, depending on the ideas that they have had. It was mostly difficult due to the number of people who have lost their jobs as well as the depravation of the basic necessities of the people during those times. France, meanwhile, has an update with their policies in an effort to catch up with the ideas that were currently propagating during that era and also to update themselves with the current ideas during the war. Tension was also high within the European nation in their effort to rebuild while also minding the social differences between the countries that were hardest hit, the ones that were neutral during the entire affair, while there were also others who also tried to see where the most profit were (, 1991). Indeed,one (2002: ) has pointed out that wherein the social background of the people are the s that are mostly the ones that determine the geography that the society is currently involved in and how they believe that these regions are significant to their background, their ideas, and more importantly their culture.
Nuclear Family and Work
With the changes in the ideas of the provisions and the labor codes within the different countries in Europe (and, indeed, in every country within the world), the affected is mostly the individual with their private lives and their families, thus also involving the practices that they have over the years and the changes which also based on their cultures and perspectives. Previous and century-old persistence of ideas in Europe has always shown that there were gender divisions within the work that the people have within their homes (, 1999). These divisions have provided towards more ideas and questions that the people have to do, yet, it is emphasized that these labors are equally relevant to the social contributions; previous ideas have continued to deny the importance of the actions, such as the domestic housework of the women as well as the social roles of festivities among others.
The concept of family has also continued to change over the years although there are still some high regard for the relationships that have formulated over the years between the members, yet, it has also been acknowledged that during the latter eras during the 20th century, there have been rapid lessening of the views on the different relationships of the people especially between siblings. Yet, with the labor code over the years, children were also given high consideration to the different ideas concerning the provision for children. Children, for example, may either be regarded as a luxury for a family or an essential for more labor force within the family; despite the relationship of the people, they continue to have economical regard and thus continue to be regarded as statements on the intention of the family, and (1997) has acknowledged that most of the funds in the provision welfare within Europe is highly dependable on their services as provided by the government although it has been acknowledged private institutions have continued to become one of the most important contributors to the cause especially as based on the economy that the family need to focus on.
Medical Provisions and Healthcare
The medical provisions within the European system has also evolved from the importance that the workers have continued to place over the worth of the human body, the help that the people contributes, and several ideas on ethics and consideration over the years. More importantly, the researches and the progress of scientific knowledge and advancement of technology have also managed to be one of the main reasons for the changes that they have. While Eastern Europe has only begun to privatize many of their services during recent years (, , , 1999), Western Europe has managed to stay ahead in the privatization and therefore also involved the medical cares that have been distributed.
Ethical considerations have also evolved over the times with more specialized learning on the findings of the scientists, especially both in establishing less sickness and also finding ways that will lessen the pain for the patient. At the same time, globalization and marketing has allowed for better access to different ideas and technology that may be given proper attention based on the capabilities of the patient and the people. The provision to keep the people healthy is one of the highest priorities of the government in an effort to protect their citizens and also their borders, yet, there are still some questions regarding the trade of these ideas and the proper use accordingly to the specific people who needed it.
In the European countries, there are several regulations that entitle the people to receive specific healthcare, whether as subsided by the government or the private companies, yet, it is quite clear that everyone is entitled to receive these treatments. and (1993) and (1993) however pointed out that these regulations may not quite reach the homeless people and that special treatments are most often not given to these people due to the large social conflict between their backgrounds and the decisions of the doctors concerning the ethical treatment of their sicknesses (). According to the writers, these are important aspects for the people to acknowledge.
Others (Education, Gender Equation in Labor Force, etc.)
The impact of the economy is far-reaching and also involves the aspects on the decision-making based on the statements, especially in the ideas of providing equal chances to the people. Education and gender equation has become one of the most important parts in the studies of the people especially in the distribution of ideas as well as giving equal opportunities to both sexes while also propagating these new beliefs ( & , 2000). With the circulation of these new ideas and new discourses that are being done, the provisions of the regulations in Europe have continued to change yet, there is still the persisting evidence of traditional thinking due to the continued practice of the traditional gender-based work system especially in the basic unit of the family. However, education has managed to be one of the most contributive factors for the changes in ideas, one of which is in gender, and with the equivalent needs of the economic turns, it is viewed that more opportunities will be available for both the sexes in their attempt to find ways that these will be filled.
References
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