INTRODUCTION: SOCIAL POLICY AND SOCIAL PROTECTION

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1564-913X.2000.tb00405.x
• Published date: 01 June 2000
• Date: 01 June 2000

Introducti on — Social policy and social pr otection 113

Copyright © International Labour Organization 2000

International Labour Review, Vol. 1 39 (200 0), No. 2

INTRODUCTION:

SOCIAL POLICY AND SOCIAL

PROTECTION

The domain of social policy is vast. In fact, it largely serves to define a

society. It includes most of what a community collectively does to protect

its weakest members, but it also h as to meet th e social needs of all. Work is a

central aspect of social l ife, and t here are a great many concerns — different

forms of employment, the distribution of wor k, a perceived confli ct between

workers and pensioners, among others. Then there is the need to extend protec-

tion to those — most work ers, from a global perspective — who benefit from

little or no ne. One of the main purposes of social pro tection is to provide

an income floor, and that is generally lacking. Yet followin g on a century of

impressive pr ogress in some countries in providing protection for many his-

torically disadvantaged grou ps — the elderly, the poorly educated, those with

disabilities — i t is now possible to envisage t he progressive extension of pro-

tection to the world’s poor and disadvantaged.

This special issue explores key aspects of social policy and social protec-

tion. Som e current p oints of contr oversy and debate are un derlined, and sug-

gestions offered for their successful resoluti on. Leading experts take up major

topics for discussion: the parameters of good social policy, t he coverage of

social pr otection, pension pol icy, and equal t reatment for women. These are

complemented by a perspective offering a guide to the debate on pension re-

form, book notes on several major publications in the field, a review of a set of

books th at di scuss new forms of employment relationshi p and contract, and

information on many other new pu blications.

In “Work and rights” A martya Sen argues that it is ti me to scrutinize

globalization for “the challenges it poses as well as the opportunities it offers”.

A “terrorizing prospect” to many, “it can be made efficacious and rewarding if

we take an adequately broad approach to the conditions t hat govern our lives

and work. There is need for well -deliberated action in support of social and

political as well as economic changes that can transform a dreaded anticipation

into a constructive reality.” He underlines the strength of a universal approach

to t he pur suit of decent work: “The increasingly globalized world economy

calls for a similarly globalized approach to basic ethics and political and social

procedures.”