Hardback
Creative Social Policy
The Collective Emancipation of Human Potential
9781035321391 Edward Elgar Publishing
Innovative and forward-thinking in its approach, this book advocates for the liberation of people’s creative potential through the systematic transformation of work and capital. Providing a detailed account and analysis of current social policy, Johannes Kananen envisions an emancipatory societal development that prioritises fulfilling human need as opposed to the accumulation of private capital.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
Innovative and forward-thinking in its approach, this book advocates for the liberation of people’s creative potential through the systematic transformation of work and capital. Providing a detailed account and analysis of current social policy, Johannes Kananen envisions an emancipatory societal development that prioritises fulfilling human need as opposed to the accumulation of private capital.
Creative Social Policy argues that recent strands of academic social policy have contributed to economics imperialism and that practical social policy has become subordinate to the functions of capitalist production. In order to address this, Kananen makes crucial strategic proposals as a means of creating sustainable economic opportunities for all, including Universal Seed Money and Universal Basic Income. Given the instabilities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, European war, austerity, the rise of right-wing populism and the climate crisis, Kananen highlights the urgent need to challenge the existing foundations of current policy making, and advocates for both emancipatory societal development and a cycle of co-creation of social policy knowledge to build a more sustainable future.
This novel approach will make essential reading for students, scholars and academics specialising in social policy, political economy, political theory and sociology. Offering a unique outlook on social policy as we understand it, this book will also be of value to professionals and policy makers working in social, economic and ecological sustainability.
Creative Social Policy argues that recent strands of academic social policy have contributed to economics imperialism and that practical social policy has become subordinate to the functions of capitalist production. In order to address this, Kananen makes crucial strategic proposals as a means of creating sustainable economic opportunities for all, including Universal Seed Money and Universal Basic Income. Given the instabilities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, European war, austerity, the rise of right-wing populism and the climate crisis, Kananen highlights the urgent need to challenge the existing foundations of current policy making, and advocates for both emancipatory societal development and a cycle of co-creation of social policy knowledge to build a more sustainable future.
This novel approach will make essential reading for students, scholars and academics specialising in social policy, political economy, political theory and sociology. Offering a unique outlook on social policy as we understand it, this book will also be of value to professionals and policy makers working in social, economic and ecological sustainability.
Critical Acclaim
‘This is a significant and inspiring work inviting a rethinking of modern social policies. Kananen introduces the concept of creative social policy anchored in history, social and economic theory. He argues forcefully for the strengthening of the emancipatory aspects of social policy in a politically unstable world in which current forms of economic production appear environmentally unsustainable.’
– Stein Kuhnle, University of Bergen, Norway
‘Johannes Kananen develops an inspiring and novel account of creative social policy to articulate a vision for the next step in the development of the modern welfare state. It is well motivated in today’s world of relentless neoliberal austerity and increasing social inequities. In addition to an effective critique of status quo economics, the author offers well thought-out solutions. These include differentiating between needs and wants, Universal Basic Income, and a Universal Seed Money fund for enterprises to develop citizens’ creative potentials. Kananen’s vision points in a direction where policy decisions are guided by an aim to foster human potential, instead of our current tired default to favor economic growth regardless of its impact on individuals, society, and the environment. I welcome these fresh insights and comprehensive creative social policy proposals.’
– S.M. Amadae, University of Helsinki, Finland and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US
‘This book offers an imaginative new direction for social policy, intended to further human interests at the social rather than the individual level.’
– Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent, UK
– Stein Kuhnle, University of Bergen, Norway
‘Johannes Kananen develops an inspiring and novel account of creative social policy to articulate a vision for the next step in the development of the modern welfare state. It is well motivated in today’s world of relentless neoliberal austerity and increasing social inequities. In addition to an effective critique of status quo economics, the author offers well thought-out solutions. These include differentiating between needs and wants, Universal Basic Income, and a Universal Seed Money fund for enterprises to develop citizens’ creative potentials. Kananen’s vision points in a direction where policy decisions are guided by an aim to foster human potential, instead of our current tired default to favor economic growth regardless of its impact on individuals, society, and the environment. I welcome these fresh insights and comprehensive creative social policy proposals.’
– S.M. Amadae, University of Helsinki, Finland and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US
‘This book offers an imaginative new direction for social policy, intended to further human interests at the social rather than the individual level.’
– Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent, UK
Contents
Contents:
Preface and acknowledgements
1 Introduction: transformative social policy
2 Knowledge, economics imperialism and social policy
3 An expanded form of social policy knowledge: from
social engineering to co-creation
4 Creative social policy
5 The historicity of creative social policy
6 The establishment of central bank independence, fiscal
austerity and a distinction between the deserving and
undeserving poor
7 Creative social policy and neoclassical economics
8 The transformation of the functions of work and capital
9 Creative social policy in practice: transforming the
functions of work and capital through Universal Basic
Income (UBI) and Universal Seed Money (USM)
10 Conclusion: a new flow of money and the future of social policy
References
Preface and acknowledgements
1 Introduction: transformative social policy
2 Knowledge, economics imperialism and social policy
3 An expanded form of social policy knowledge: from
social engineering to co-creation
4 Creative social policy
5 The historicity of creative social policy
6 The establishment of central bank independence, fiscal
austerity and a distinction between the deserving and
undeserving poor
7 Creative social policy and neoclassical economics
8 The transformation of the functions of work and capital
9 Creative social policy in practice: transforming the
functions of work and capital through Universal Basic
Income (UBI) and Universal Seed Money (USM)
10 Conclusion: a new flow of money and the future of social policy
References
