TREND, SCALE AND LIMIT. PORTUGAL AND THE END OF THE «GOLDEN AGE» OF WELFARE STATE

Carlos Miguel Jorge Martins

doi:10.14195/2183-8925_35_4

Carlos Miguel Jorge Martins

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14195/2183-8925_35_4

Copy DOI

Abstract

Contrary to the general trend of welfare state retrenchment that began in the 1970s, the Portuguese case presents itself as an exception, expressing the particularity of developing an welfare state during a time of crisis for welfare policies. Neoliberalism, as a significant influence on welfare state changes, did not play a role during the creation of the welfare state in Portugal. The key variables to understanding the rather particular path of Portugal were a very specific group of political contingencies, as well as a particular institutional environment framed by economic and political ideas that were antagonistic to neoliberal proposals. That path can be illustrated by the construction of the SNS(1), a body functioning in opposition to neoliberal logic. The singularity of the Portuguese case opens the door for defining new scales, limits and possibilities regarding welfare state studies.

Highlights

The concept of frontier can be interpreted as extremely important in historical analysis and discourses
The idea of a strong bond between the Portuguese democracy and the welfare state, influenced by the characteristics of the revolution, is important for this article argument because of the constraints that it placed on the political choices available
Portugal and the end of the «golden age» of welfare state revolution led to the birth of a Portuguese welfare state is plausible, and highlights the importance of political outcomes as opposed to economic reality

Summary

Introduction

The concept of frontier can be interpreted as extremely important in historical analysis and discourses. It develops an analysis on the political and social choices made towards an explicit welfare state policy, while looking at the role that the rising neoliberal ideology might have had. The idea of a strong bond between the Portuguese democracy and the welfare state, influenced by the characteristics of the revolution, is important for this article argument because of the constraints that it placed on the political choices available.

Results

Conclusion