Objective:
The purpose of this assignment is to investigate a social policy with some depth and explore the implications of that policy. This paper requires research on the policy itself as well as the historical era and events surrounding the development and implementation of the policy. You will also include a discussion of the intent, target(s) (behavioral and/or individual), ideologies, and impacts of the policy. Lastly you will evaluate the effectiveness of the policy (based on others’ research) and/or present an alternative policy or strategy to meet the policy’s stated goals.
Format:
The paper should cover the following 5 areas:
- Identify a social policy
- Provide some historical context of the policy (what was happening around this time and location) – was it during the progressive era, welfare reform era, etc.
- Describe the social policy: how did the policy come to be? What social problem was it set up to solve? What was the target population or behavior of the policy? What were the eligibility criteria of the policy and what were the benefits and/or burdens of it?
- Analyze the values (e.g. equality of opportunity) ideologies (protestant work ethic, paternalism, individualism, etc.) and/or moral theories (e.g. liberalism, Marxism, etc.) driving and/or supporting this policy.
- Discuss the extent to which this policy achieves its aims and consider alternative strategies to achieve the goals of this social policy.