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Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 1 (March 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

• PATHOLOGIES OF THE POOR: WHAT DO THE WAR ON DRUGS AND WELFARE REFORM HAVE IN COMMON? - Kalynn Amundson, Anna M. Zajicek, and Valerie H. Hunt
• GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SELF-EMPLOYMENT OF OLDER WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND NEW ZEALAND - Angela L. Curl, Deanna L. Sharpe, and Jack Noone
• INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CHILDREN IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: A CASE OF PATH DEPENDENCY - Victoria Schmidt and Jo Daugherty Bailey
• THE FIRST FAITH-BASED MOVEMENT: THE RELIGIOUS ROOTS OF SOCIAL PROGRESSIVISM IN AMERICA (1880-1912) IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE - Steven Stritt
• MASS SHOOTINGS AND MENTAL HEALTH POLICY - Jessica Rosenberg …

The Bitter Pill: Austerity, Debt, And The Attack On Europe's Welfare States, Howard Karger

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

There is a general belief among may European policymakers that the current debt problem in some Eurozone countries is caused by the unsustainable levels of governmental spending required to maintain overly generous welfare state programs, a bloated public sector, overly generous pension levels, state subsidies, and low user fees for services. Their proposed solution lies in implementing stringent austerity measures designed to discipline debt-ridden governments by cutting public budgets, reducing the number of public sector workers, curbing social benefits, and sharply narrowing the scope of the welfare state. Based on a belief in ‘expansionary austerity,’ this approach repudiates a key …

Review Of Family Policy And The American Safety Net. Janet Zollinger Giele. Reviewed By Mary Ann Kanieski, Mary Ann Kanieski

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Janet Zollinger Giele, Family Policy and the American Safety Net. Sage (2013). $26 (paperback).

When Government Helped: Learning From The Successes And Failures Of The New Deal. Sheila D. Collins And Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg (Eds.). Reviewed By Robert D. Leighninger, Jr., Robert D. Leighninger Jr.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Sheila D. Collins and Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg (Eds.), When Government Helped: Learning from the Successes and Failures of the New Deal. Oxford University Press (2014). $39.95 paperback, 360 pages.

Are Payday Loans Really Evil? Controversy, Regulation, And Innovation In The Secondary Financial Services Market, David Stoesz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Stagnant income and persistent debt have induced low- and middle-income households to rely on alternative financial services (AFS): buy-here-pay-here auto loans, check-cashers, payday loans, auto title loans, rent-to-own furniture and appliances, and pawnshops. A secondary financial services market has evolved to serve the secondary labor market, replete with trade associations as well as state and federal regulators. Mainstream financial institutions have marketed innovations, such as reloadable debit cards, to appeal to low- and middle-income consumers. High fees and interest rates of AFS products have fueled a volatile debate about the future of the secondary financial services market, with options including …

Review Of Save Our Unions. Steve Early. Reviewed By Luke Elliott-Negri, Luke Elliott-Negri

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Steve Early, Save Our Unions. Monthly Review Press (2013). $19.95 (paperback), 344 pages.

Review Of The Divide: American Injustice In The Age Of The Wealth Gap. Matt Taibbi. Reviewed By Marguerite Rosenthal, Marguerite Rosenthal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Matt Taibbi, The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap. Spiegel & Grau (2014). $27 (hardcover), $17 (paperback), 416 pages.

Individual And Country-Level Institutional Trust And Public Attitude To Welfare Expenditures In 24 Transitional Countries, Nazim Habibov

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Does institutional trust on the individual and on the country level influence public attitudes to state social welfare expenditures in transitional countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia? To answer this question, this study draws on a comparative survey conducted in 24 countries. Multilevel binomial logit regression was used to allow for the simultaneous inclusion of variables at the individual- and country-levels of analysis. Institutional trust is associated with positive attitudes to welfare expenditures on the individual level, but not on the country level. Women, older individuals, those who are less educated, and those of low-income …

Goffman And The Infantilization Of Elderly Persons: A Theory In Development, Stephen M. Marson, Rasby M. Powell

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Infantilization is a behavioral pattern in which a person of authority interacts with, responds to, or treats an elderly person in a child-like manner. This paper uses Erving Goffman’s theories as a framework from which to analyze the reasons for and the results of infantilization of elderly residents in partial and total institutions (i.e., adult day care centers and nursing homes). First, we review the literature on infantilization. Next, we offer a brief summary of Goffman’s work and delineate his major theoretical assumptions. Then, we analyze the process of infantilization through Goffman’s theories. Finally, we offer suggestions for advancing research …

Exploring Factors Associated With Citizens’ Perception Of Their Political Environment: Evidence From Palestine, Najwa S. Safadi, Margaret Lombe

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study explores factors associated with citizens’ perception of their political environment in Palestine (N = 1270). Understanding these factors in this context has potential to enhance knowledge in relation to features that may be associated with dissatisfaction and civil unrest. This knowledge may help inform development of policies with greater potential to improve welfare. Overall, results of this study suggested that gender, government anti-corruption initiatives, and the country’s economic condition are important in explaining appraisal of the political environment as stable or unstable. Implications for welfare and scholarship are discussed.

Review Of On The Run: Fugitive Life In An American City. Alice Goffman. Reviewed By Jennifer Zelnick, Jennifer R. Zelnick

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Alice Goffman, On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City. University of Chicago Press (2014). 288 pages, $25.00 (hardcover).

Pathologies Of The Poor: What Do The War On Drugs And Welfare Reform Have In Common?, Kalynn Amundson, Anna M. Zajicek, Valerie H. Hunt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) authorized drug testing of welfare recipients as a criterion for assistance eligibility. This raises the question of a possible confluence of War on Drugs and Welfare Reform policies, as indicated by continuity in policymakers’ rhetoric. We examine federal-level policymakers’ debates surrounding the authorization of drug testing welfare recipients. The analysis reveals that themes of social pathology were present in both policy areas. Crime, drug addiction, welfare dependency, and drug testing themes are comparable in both debates. Teen pregnancy, out-of-wedlock birth, and female-headed households themes were more prevalent in Welfare …

Mass Shootings And Mental Health Policy, Jessica Rosenberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Research suggests that mass shootings can increase mental health stigma, reinforce stereotypes that people with mental illness are violent, and influence public policy. This article examines mental health policy initiatives resulting from the mass shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado within the context of existing research about mental illness, suicide, substance abuse and gun violence. Previous legislation that restricts access to firearms among persons with mental illness is reviewed. The article suggests that gun control legislation that focuses on persons with mental illness is not supported by research, may create barriers to treatment, and may have limited efficacy …

The Neglect Of Network Theory In Practice With Immigrants In The Southwest, Emilia Martinez-Brawley, Paz M-B. Zorita

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper reviews selected theories of international migration including social network and human capital. It discusses the nature of social networks among immigrants and the costs and benefits for the sending and receiving countries. The history of social network theory in social work practice is revisited. Given the current importance of immigration in the Southwest, the strength and limitations of applying networking principles in practice with immigrants in the border areas are included. This article does not focus on the complexity of networks among refugees or asylum seekers, where government population dispersion or resettlement policies might change their circumstances.

Review Of To The End Of June: The Intimate Life Of American Foster Care. Cris Beam. From Pariahs To Partners: How Parents And Their Allies Changed New York City’S Child Welfare System. David Tobis. Reviewed By Julie Cooper Altman., Julie Cooper Altman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Cris Beam, To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2013). $27.00 (hardcover). David Tobis, From Pariahs to Partners: How Parents and Their Allies Changed New York City’s Child Welfare System. Oxford University Press (2013). $29.95 (hardcover).

Austerity Versus Stimulus: An Introduction To The Special Issue, James Midgley, Howard Karger, Subas Risal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

No abstract provided.

Austerity Versus Stimulus: Theoretical Perspectives And Policy Implications, James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Attempts to respond to the negative social and economic effects of the Great Recession have been cast in terms of the austerity versus stimulus debate. Although oversimplified, this debate reflects wider theoretical analyses of market economies and normative prescriptions for enhancing their functioning. Referencing the historical evolution of economic thought, these theories and their policy implications for responding to recessions are summarized and their relevance for social welfare is examined in the light of recent events.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 41, No. 2 (June 2014)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE - Howard Karger, James Midgley, and Subas Risal

AUSTERITY VERSUS STIMULUS: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES AND POLICY PRESCRIPTIONS - James Midgley

THE BITTER PILL: AUSTERITY, DEBT, AND THE ATTACK ON EUROPE'S WELFARE STATES - Howard Karger

BETWEEN RETRENCHMENT AND RECALIBRATION: THE IMPACT OF AUSTERITY ON THE IRISH SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM - Fiona Dukelow and Mairéad Considine

ITALIAN WELFARE IN THE AFTERMATH OF ECONOMIC CRISIS: NEOLIBERAL REFORMS AND LIMITS TO THE PATH DEPENDENCY APPROACH - Ijin Hong

DEFICIT-DRIVEN AUSTERITY POLICIES: EFFECTS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE UNITED STATES - David Miller and …

Between Retrenchment And Recalibration: The Impact Of Austerity On The Irish Social Protection System, Fiona Dukelow, Mairead Considine

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article analyzes the impact of austerity on the Irish social protection system. The analysis is situated in Ireland’s wider financial and economic crisis and its status as an ‘early adopter’ of an austerity response which has continued under European Union/International Monetary Fund intervention. We focus on how the crisis instigated a political narrative about the cost and design of the social protection system, leading to a programme of retrenchment and reform which has blended a politics of blame avoidance with credit claiming. Three core elements in this narrative— generosity, sustainability and suitability— are identified, and against this background, a …

Review Of The Origins Of Active Social Policy: Labour Market And Childcare Policies In A Comparative Perspective. Giuliano Bonoli. Reviewed By James Midgley, James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Giuliano Bonoli, The Origins of Active Social Policy: Labour Market and Childcare Policies in a Comparative Perspective. Oxford University Press (2013). $ 99.00 (hardcover).

Gender Differences In Self-Employment Of Older Workers In The United States And New Zealand, Angela L. Curl, Deanna L. Sharpe, Jack Noone

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examined differences in self-employment of workers age 50+ in the United States (N = 3,948) and New Zealand (N = 1,434). Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted by country and gender. For both U.S. men and women, lower income, higher wealth, and having an employed spouse increased the likelihood of self-employment. Older age, lower income, higher wealth, and household composition increased the odds of being self-employed for men in New Zealand. Women in New Zealand were more likely to be self-employed if they were in a blue-collar occupation, had higher household wealth, higher education, and did not receive …

Institutionalization Of Children In The Czech Republic: A Case Of Path Dependency, Victoria Schmidt, Jo Daugherty Bailey

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite the development of alternative forms of care, international and domestic pressures for change, and over 20 years of efforts at deinstitutionalization, the Czech Republic has one of the highest rates of institutionalization of children in Europe (UNICEF, 2012). The continuing reliance upon residential care for children by the child protection system, particularly for children who are disabled or of Roma descent, demonstrates a case of path dependency in which a solidification of the system’s response is rooted in its past. Understanding the impact of historical precedence is key to reforming the current system.

The First Faith-Based Movement: The Religious Roots Of Social Progressivism In America (1880-1912) In Historical Perspective, Steven Stritt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This re-evaluation of the published writings of Richard T. Ely, Josiah Strong, and Jane Addams during the Progressive era (1880- 1912) explores the themes of religious idealism and nationalism that figured prominently in the early formulation of modern liberal reform ideology in the United States. A specific focus will be placed on tracing themes of the America’s millennial destiny and how they gradually evolved into prophesies of social transformation through the applied use of social science knowledge. Beyond merely satisfying historical curiosity, this inquiry provides a new perspective from which to consider the fierce clashes over social welfare policy which …

Information And Communication Technology In Child Welfare: The Need For Culture-Centered Computing, Richard J. Smith, Tara Eaton

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article discusses the introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) in the California child welfare system. Drawing from anthropological literature, the authors emphasize the role of work practice and context associated with new ICT implementation. This case study uses a documentary- historical approach to analyze interviews with 386 workers who used the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) between 1997 and 2005. Data show the implementation of CWS/CMS impacted the work practice of the welfare system. The authors recommend culture-centered computing for future developments and upgrades of ICT in child welfare.

Review Of The Creation Of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set The Stage For Monarchy, Slavery, And Empire. Kent Flannery And Joyce Marcus. Reviewed By Kelly Mckowen., Kelly Mckowen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Kent Flannery and Joyce Marcus, The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire (2012). Harvard University Press. $39.95 (hardcover).

Review Of Changing Welfare States. Anton Hemerijck. Reviewed By James Midgley., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Anton Hemerijck, Changing Welfare States. Oxford University Press (2013). $40.00 (paperback).

Review Of Coming Up Short: Working-Class Adulthood In An Age Of Uncertainty. Jennifer M. Silva. Reviewed By Marguerite G. Rosenthal., Marguerite Rosenthal

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Jennifer M. Silva, Coming Up Short: Working-Class Adulthood in an Age of Uncertainty. Oxford University Press (2013). $29.95 (hardcover).

Review Of The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens And The Nation. Leo R. Chavez. Reviewed By Catherine Carballeira., Catherine Carballeira

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Leo R. Chavez, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens and the Nation. Stanford University Press (2nd ed.) (2013). $70 (hardcover); $22.95 (paperback).

Review Of The Good News Club: The Christian Right’S Stealth Assault On America’S Children. Katherine Stewart. Reviewed By John E. Tropman., John E. Tropman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Katherine Stewart, The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children. Public Affairs (2012). $25.99 (hardcover).

Review Of The Allure Of Order: High Hopes, Dashed Expectations, And The Troubled Quest To Remake American Schooling. Jal Mehta. Reviewed By Eva Gold., Eva Gold

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Review of:

Jal Mehta, The Allure of Order: High Hopes, Dashed Expectations, and the Troubled Quest to Remake American Schooling, Oxford University Press (2013). $29.95 (hardcover).