The Welfare State Is the Cause of Not the Solution to Many Social Problems

This essay will be divided into parts or segments in order to have a clearer and better understanding of the questions and the position that I support.

The first part will focus on the history of welfare state and the act of welfarism in a Sate. I will draw most of my postulation from the UK and some other European State with a tighter welfarism.

The second part will argue for and against the effect of welfarism in a state with an emphasis on UK and I will critically examine if indeed welfarism is the root-cause of the social problems and not the solution.

The third part will discuss the various social problems confronting the UK and how welfare problems or over dependency of 'state handout' has contributed to the social problems that are faced in the UK.

In the fourth part, I will attempt to briefly explain the solution on how the State can tackle the issue of over-dependant on State welfare packages. This part may have similarities to both part two and three but there will be clear view of what my views are based on.

The concluding part of the essay will be a general summary of points raised above. Just as stated above, my major concentration will be on UK. Materials for this essay will largely be sourced from the internet and other text reading.

Definition and my attempted review of a welfare state

According to Atkinson, (1995), "a welfare state is a concept of government where the state plays the primary role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. The general term may cover a variety of forms of economic and social organization".

This definition clearly explained part of the model on which my essay will be structured. It explained the two main interpretations of a welfare state. One is explained as "a model in which the state assumes primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens and the other on is the creation of a social safety net of minimum standards of varying forms of welfare", Atkinson (1995).