Journal Articles

Neoliberal paternalism and paradoxical subjects: Confusion and contradiction in UK activation policy

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The twin thrusts of neoliberal paternalism have in recent decades become fused elements of
diverse reform agendas across the advanced economies, yet neoliberalism and paternalism
present radically divergent and even contradictory views of the subject across the four key
spaces of ontology, teleology, deontology and ascetics. These internal fractures in the
conceptual and resulting policy framework of neoliberal paternalism present considerable risks
around unintended policy mismatch across these four spaces or, alternatively, offer significant
flexibility for deliberate mismatch and ‘storying’ by policy makers. This article traces these
tensions in the context of the UK Coalition government’s approach to the unemployed and
outlines a current policy approach to employment activation that is filled with ambiguity,
inconsistency and contradiction in its understanding of the subject, the ‘problem’ and the policy ‘solution’.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Critical Social Policy

Call Number

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Publisher

Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications., 2016

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

02610183

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Volume 36, Issue 3, August 2016; pp. 412–431

Subject(s)

Employment
govermentalities
neoliberal paternalism
subjectivation
work programme

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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