Political Science 111
Instructor: Dr. Gregory Johnston
Due Date: 27 April 2009
Capitalist Welfare States
A welfare state refers to a state’s responsibility to secure some vital degree of welfare for its citizens and to ensure of the security of the people that live within the boundaries of that state. Capitalist welfare states are categorized under three models. These models include the Liberal regime, the Social Democratic regime, and the Corporatist regime. These regimes are characterized by several key variables, which create different systems of social stratification. The Liberal regime, which the United States is classified under, is associated with poverty relief that sustains differentiation based on income. The Corporatist regime is identified with contributory social insurance that maintains class distinctions based on occupational status. The Social Democratic regime is linked to middle-class universalism and social equality. While all of these models have benefits, the one that I find most appealing is the Social Democratic regime.
