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WELFARE STATE : CRITICISM AND LIMITATIONS

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Topic Cover –B.A Sem-I 

Submitted By

Dr. Jiwan Devi

Dept. of  Political Science

HMV Jalandhar, Punjab, India

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INTRODUCTION

• Different scholars hold different views about functions of state . Some scholars are in favour of limited functions of state while some are in favour of giving maximum functions to state, J.S. Mill , Laski , Green , Cole, etc. are the supporters of this viewpoint.
• Karl Marx , a famous Marxist thinker advocated that since the capital was produced by the poor labourers ,they should have the right to use it also.
• Socialism was for ending the exploitation of the poor and for establishing economic equality and for this, the means of production should be given under the control of the state.

DEFINATIONS

• According to T.W. Kent ,” A welfare state is a state which provides for its citizens a wide range of social services”
• According to G.D.H. Cole, “The welfare state is a society in which an assured minimum standard of living and opportunity becomes the possession of every citizen”

EMERGENCE OF MARXISM

• To liberate the labourers and the poor from the control of the rich , Karl Marx said that since the wealth was produced by the labourers , therefore , the wealth should be used by the labour .
• Production should not be done with profit motive rather it should be done keeping in mind the social needs of the people .
• The Marxists laid more stress on the protection of social interests than that of the individual interests.

WELFARE FUNCTIONS OF STATE

Compulsory Functions

Optional Functions

1. Protection of life and property
2. Judicial Administration
3. Spread of Education
4. Eradication of poverty
5. Moral and Social reforms
6. Maintenance of Law and Order
7. To provide recreational facilities
8. To regulate family life
9. Development of natural resources
10. Provision of political equality

1. Maintenance of law and order
2. Protection from Foreign invasions
3. Establishment of Diplomatic relations with other states
4. To provide justice to the people ,etc.

CRITICISM OF THE WELFARE STATE

1. It makes the State inefficient :Every individual will expect every work to be done by the state . Thus , it will increase the needs of the individual the load of work or functions of the state would be correspondingly increased.
2. Man will not be able to become self-dependent : Individual will expect each and every work to be done by the state and he will not learn to stand on his own feet.

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3.Costly Administration: People will expect more facilities and the state shall have to impose higher rates of taxation in order to meet the increased expenditure . This will burden the people under heavy taxes.

4.Encouragement to Bureaucracy : The government will need more trained administrative staff in order to cope with increased work in hand.

5.Curtailment in the liberties of the citizens: The liberties of the citizens in welfare state will be curtailed because while doing more functions the state will interfere in the life of the individual, who in return shall have to be deprived of his liberties in this bargain.

LIMITATIONS OF STATE ACTIVITIES

1. Public Opinion : In every democratic state , maximum opportunities are given to the people for the formation and expression of public opinion.
2. Religion :The state should not try to impose any religion on the individual . But individuals should not be allowed to do anything wrong in the name of the religion.

3. Moral Values: The state should niether try to interfere nor should try to destroy these moral values rather the state should try to remove the hindrances which come in the way of the moral values.

4.Customs :The state should not interfere in the customs. But the state has the right to change the orthodox and backward customs.

5.Culture: The state should not interfere in the culture of the people. Sometimes in an authoritarian state an attempt is made to impose a particular type of culture on the people but it leads to serious consequences.

6.Art and Literature: Both art and literature are the mirror of the social , economic and political conditions of the country and should not become an obstacle in the way of their development.

7.Fashion:According to Maclver, fashion is the personal matter of an individual and is also part of the culture .But under the grab of fashion , the vulgarity cannot be allowed by the state.

CONCLUSION

• In brief , we can say that the above written are certain aspects of life which the state should refrain from interference.
• MavIver is of the opinion that you can sharpen a pencil with an axe but it will be ruin the material .
• But this does not mean that the state cannot interfere in the areas written above .
• In case an individual or a group of individual or a group of individuals does something against the interests of state or society , then the state has every right to stop them from doing so.

THANK

YOU !