RC 39 was first recognized as a study group in 1992 and was assigned the status of Research Committee in 1999. It deals with issues related to welfare states and developing societies within the broader discipline of Political Science. It aims at developing a paradigm that could be applied to less resourceful countries of the Global South that need welfare provisions at a rapid speed on massive scale. It encourages comparative studies of welfare systems in the developed and developing world so that various countries at various stages of socio-economic and political development could ‘learn’ and ‘unlearn’ from each other’s experiences. The developing world comprises of two-third of world’s population and half of total land and hence its well-being can no longer be ignored. In some countries, we find a shift in paradigm from ‘welfare’ to ‘paternalism’ moving beyond equality and social justice to ‘civilized politics’.

In view of the main theme, New Nationalisms in an Open World, of the 26th IPSA World Congress to be held at Lisbon from 25-29 July 2020, our Research Committee invites panel/paper proposals related to ‘Welfare State and Nationalism’, ‘Economic and Political Rhetoric of the Welfare State’, ‘Nationalism, Gender and Welfare’, ‘Politics of Belonging  and Immigrants’, ‘Welfare State and Democracy’, ‘Impact of Globalization on Welfare States and Developing Societies’, and ‘Alternatives to Welfare State in Future’. Our Research Committee welcomes proposals related to unconventional social policies beyond pensions, health care, unemployment insurance to ‘social policy by other means’, ‘ersatz social policy’, or ‘informal welfare’. These include diverse policy areas, such as, agriculture, education, housing, transport, regulation and taxation. They all help in redistributing income either in cash or in kind. India and China are good examples of this approach.

Our Research Committee also encourages research on the shift in paradigm from generosity to austerity even in advanced economies and the developed world owing to the changing labour market and family structure in the wake of knowledge-based and technology-driven economies. No wonder, we find the focus shifting from welfare states to individual responsibility through insurance policies. Beside seeking proposals related to new nationalisms and welfare states, rise of populism and democracy coping with immigration and political asylum, futuristic trends in welfare, we would welcome proposals related to theoretical approaches and methodologies, emerging trends in welfare reforms, regional diversity and specificity of welfare state, social protection system in the LDCs, case studies and comparison of welfare systems within developing societies or between the developed and the developing countries. Those interested in submitting a paper or a panel under RC 39 may contact the Convener and Co-Convener by June end. The last date to submit the panels is 10 July 2019.

Convener/Chair:                               Co-convener:  

Dr. Asha Gupta,                                  Dr. Natália Sátyro      

Ex-Director, DHMI                               Federal University of Minas Gerais   

University of Delhi, India                       Brazil, South America          

ashagupta3452@gmail.com                  nsatyro@gmail.com