Analysis of Social policy in Iran (1981-2009)
Author: Qarakhani, Masoumeh , qarakhanim@gmail.com
Department: Sociology
University: Tarbiat Modares University, Iran
Supervisor: Ali Saei
Year of completion: 2011
Language of dissertation: Persion (Farsi)
Keywords:
Social policy
, Social Spending
, State capacity
, State approach
Areas of Research:
Poverty, Social Welfare and Social Policy
, Political Sociology
, Historical and Comparative Sociology
Abstract
This research deals with social policy. Iranian states have developed different welfare plans in order to achieve social justice, but social inequalities, continuation of social damages and the government failure in achieving social justice has resulted in considering social policy as a problematic issue. In this study, theories of social policy were divided into two parts: state – centered theories and society – centered theories. In the continuation, using the framework of state – centered theories, two hypotheses were proposed: First hypothesis: Social policy in Iran is a function of the state approach, so that with change in the state’ approach – the traditional left, new right, new left and radical fundamentalists –social policy changes as well. Second hypothesis: There is a relationship between state capacity and social policy, so that the more the state capacity, the more social policy. This argument was empirically judged through observed propositions. In this study both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. Narration analysis was used as qualitative technique and some techniques such as variance analysis and linear regression tests of Durbin- Watson and Cochrane- Orcutt were used as quantitative techniques. The findings reveled social policy in Iran within legislative input level in education, health and housing dimensions is not same affected by state’s approach of the four states since 1981 through 2009. According to results the research the relation between state’s approach and social expenditure is not meaningful. The results also found no correlation between the states capacity and social policy. The facts revealed that no specified pattern of social policy may be found in each of the four states during the under investigation period. Finally, the study indicated the fact that social policy is a contextual subject. To provide more accurate analysis of social policy in Iran we should pay attention to intuitional actors, structural and international factors.These determinants and relation among them have reported in research results.
