US WELFARE POLICY IN HISTORICAL-PERSPECTIVE - A BIFURCATED SYSTEM

Historically, the debate over welfare policy has focused on issues of rights and responsibilities. In recent political contests, welfare ''reform'' has meant requiring welfare recipients to work, acquire an education, and/or enroll in some sort of job training program. This article examines and critically analyzes the key theoretical contentions of this debate as it evolved during four key periods during the 20th century. In addition, an attempt is made to determine the extent to which these ideas are new or a ''reform'' by analyzing the assumptions on which they are based.