Abraham Doron

The welfare state in Israel : the evolution of social security policy and practice

Though a latecomer to the ranks of social democratic welfare states, Israel developed a modern system of social security in the span of three decades. The authors examine the key policy issues common to all social security systems, while analyzing the distinctive Israeli process of policymaking in each case. They look specifically, for example, at the role played in the development of social security policy by ideology, politics, public opinion, demography, and ethnicity; the conditions under which various forms of social protection reduce inequality; and the effects of different types of institutional structures on the development of social policy.

Social welfare policy in Israel: Developments in the 1980s and 1990s

Two major trends, sometimes conflicting, dominate Israeli social policy in the 1980s and 1990s. One trend is towards retrenchment and marginalization of the welfare state, namely reduction of government responsibility and involvement in ensuring the welfare of the population. The other is of expansion: widening of government involvement in providing for the well-being of specific population groups in a range of areas. Both trends are essentially political in character, although they are often presented as issues of economic management.

The Israeli Welfare State at Crossroads

The paper deals with the evolution of the welfare state in Israel and the impact it has had on the structure of Israeli society. It outlines the major phases of its development and stresses the social and political forces that shaped the process of trial and error in which these have evolved. The achievements and limits of the Israeli welfare state are analysed in the context of its particular circumstances as a developing industrial society that has also to cope with the integration of its various ethnic immigrant groups and with maintaining the morale of the population in face of the continuous threat to its national security. In conclusion the paper reviews the roots of the current crisis and outlines the possible strategies to deal with it, within the framework of Israeli society and in an international perspective.

Sixty-two years of national insurance in Israel

Abstract During its 62 years of existence, the National Insurance Institute (NII) has undergone major changes, in line with the radical shifts in Israeli society, that have affected its special status, its functions, the policies it pursued, the organizational and managerial manner of its operation and other aspects of its activities. All these have had an immense impact on the wellbeing of the population as a whole and especially on the welfare of the weaker population groups. This article examines some major features of these changes, including the NII’s position within the governmental structure, the changing nature of public control over the organization, the shift in public attitudes toward its functioning, the protection of value of benefits in times of changing economic circumstances, the extent of its universal approach and its relationship with the insured population.

The labour movement and welfare policy in Israel, 1948–1977

Abstract This article reviews the attitudes of the Israeli labour movement, particularly the position of Mapai, the dominant party in that movement, regarding the development of welfare policy in Israel from the establishment of the state in May 1948 until May 1977, when Labour lost power to the Likud party. The review and discussion focuses on the development of social security ‒ the national insurance system, the welfare services ‒ the provision of assistance to people in need, as well as the personal care services, which are primarily provided by social work professionals.

Changes in the israeli income support system

Abstract The new ‘Income Support Benefits Act’ which came into effect in January 1982, constitutes a major change in social policy and service administration in Israel. It created a functional and organisational separation between the cash and social care service benefits. The findings of this study indicate that the new policy improved the circumstances of the needy population groups as measured by three positive outcomes. First, a significant number of needy ceased receiving welfare and availed themselves of their rights to benefit from other contributory national insurance programmes. Second, more uniform and slightly higher benefits were provided after separation. Third, the new income support benefits allowed for longer periods of assistance and were paid in a more regular manner, automatically adjusted to changes in the level of prices and wages. All this contributed to the enhancement of the expressed satisfaction of the target group. The findings also show some significant change in the client groups.

Book reviews : Ashford, Douglas E. (1986) The Emergence of the Welfare States. Basil Blackwell. 352 pp

How to obtain insight into others’ situations, to understand their pain, and to engage in their struggle for survival and growth, form many of Davis’s themes. A dominant theme is his exploration of the complex interaction between people’s inner worlds of feelings and emotions and the external conditions which repress and liberate these states. This is best illustrated in the nine articles appearing under the theme of ’Feelings, Emotions and Sexuality’; a major focus being the need to acknowledge people’s sexuality and of the rights of people with disabilities or who are m care to be able to give expression to their sexuality. Another important theme is that social work practice should be firmly centred on understanding and responding to the felt and expressed needs of those requiring help. Davis argues further that for social workers to maintain commitment, retain sensitivity and continue to enagage in the suffering of others, without abusing their power and authority, requires appropriate support, planning and organization. Thus Davis consistently opposes bureaucratic and autocratic management practices that disable instead of enabling sensitive, constructive practice to take place. Read for example, ’Night of Shame in Southwark’ (pp.243-5, a scathing attack of heavy handed management response to a crisis in a children’s home) or ’When the Rules Take Over’ (pp. 247-50, a more general discussion of the abuse of power in residential settings). A third major theme is an unremitting opposition to social injustice and oppression, wherever it occurs in Thatcher’s Britain, or Marco’s Philippines. Thus ’social work is about power; politics is about power. Social Work is a political activity’ (pp.274-5). Throughout his writing Davis alludes to and makes active use of a wide range of literature, revealing the breadth and depth of his intellectual capacity and interests; Camus, Pirsig, Carson McCullers, Gilbert and Sullivan to name just a few. For example, in ’Senses and Sensibility’ (pp.9-28) he uses the respective outlooks and temperaments of Jane Austen’s Eleanor (conventional and conformist) and Marianne (independent and free-thinking) to compare altervative approaches and styles of residential work. In doing so he clearly identifies with the Mariannes of this world a

Book reviews : Dixon, John (1986) Social Security Traditions and other Global Implications. International Fellowship for Social and Economic Development. 155 pp

All in all, the writer succeeds in highlighting the significance of putting group living in the right context the organizational context and in this case, the residential establishment. This conceptual framework is most important both to management and to frontline workers whether social workers or house parents. Given the fact that the range of residential institutions is so wide, it is only reasonable and possible to bring out the common factors when drawing the general concepts applicable in some degree to all settings. Readers have yet to evaluate these concepts in their specific setting and specific groups, but may well agree that the general concepts have their universal significance. I could quote my experience in Hong Kong where the treatment objectives of the probation homes and reformatory schools could be subverted when disciphne and custody are given too much weight. This could be the result partly of the ideology of the organization to put discipline and control above everything and partly of the great size of the homes and schools. Consequently, depersonalization is an easy way out when staff-residents interactions are kept to the minimum, so much so that transfer of learning of values and skills from the staff to the residents could not effectively take place. More so, an inmate world structured more or less like a triad