Thematic study on the welfare regime

Leading researcher: Wawan Mas'udi Ph.D, Hasrul Hanif, MA

A welfare regime is understood as a particular constellation of social political and economic arrangements that are aimed at nurturing a particular welfare system (Taylor-Gooby, 1996ⁱ). The character of the system is determined by the existence of strategic alliances between governments and influential interest groups (e.g., social actors and private sectors) to develop collective agreements about social programs (including services and benefits for families) that endure over time, despite changes in government.

This thematic study will examine the production and distribution of welfare within society as reflections of basic welfare values in Indonesia (Goodin, 1988ⁱⁱ). The nature of a welfare regime is largely determined by the prominence and role of key actors in the state, private sector and society to uphold welfare values (Esping-Andersen, 2003ⁱⁱⁱ). This is identifiable by distinguishing the forms of the existing system. Given that the character of a welfare regime is not identifiable merely by examining welfare produced, this study will also aim to reveal the power relations established between actors involved (Santoso et al., 2010^iv).

Additionally, an analysis of a welfare regime should identify the existing model for power relations among all key actors, rather than only identify dominant actors (Esping-Anderson 2003). In order to reveal this dimension, this study will develop several case studies related to the management of social welfare policies in key sectors of the welfare regime, including education, health services and employment.

Research into the character of Indonesia’s welfare regime must also examine patterns in public resource management that enable the fulfilment of basic public needs. This area of inquiry leads to an evaluation of how both institutions for public resource management and democratic governance align to establish a functioning welfare system (Goodman, White, & Kwon, 1998^v). This component of the current study is grounded in previous related studies, including Haggard and Kufmann (2008^vi), and the United States Research Institute for Social Development Flagship Report (2010^vii).

This research aims to identify and elaborate diverse operating welfare regimes in Indonesia in order to inform efforts to build an effective welfare system to support democratisation in Indonesia. In order to achieve this goal, the research will pursue the following strategies; [1] Elaborate on welfare production and distribution within society as expressions of basic welfare values through the development of several case studies in which welfare institutions operate within distinct welfare regimes, [2] Identify and describe power relations among key actors, including the social, political and economic contexts structuring existing power relations and resulting alliances, [3] Evaluate how institutions of welfare management work to promote and support democratisation in Indonesia, and [4] Analyse Indonesia’s existing welfare regimes.

i. Taylor-Gooby, P. (1996).
ii. Goodin, R. E. (1988). Reasons for Welfare: The Political Theory of the Welfare State. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
iii. Esping-Andersen, G. (2003). Why We Need a New Welfare State. New York: Oxford University Press.
iv. Santoso, (2010).
v. Goodman, R. White. G., & Kwon, H. (Eds.). (1998). The East Asian Welfare Model: Welfare Orientalism and the State. New York: Routledge.
vi. Haggard, S., & Kaufman, R. R. (2008). Development, Democracy, and Welfare States: Latin America, East Asia, and Eastern Europe. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
vii. United States Research Institute for Social Development. (2010). UNRISD Flagship Report: Combating Poverty and Inequality. Geneva: UNRISD Research and Policy Briefs.