Formação e crise do Estado de bem-estar: direitos sociais e solidariedade nos países capitalistas centrais

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate, based on a literature review, the historical development and operation of the Welfare State in central capitalist countries from a perspective of guaranteeing social rights and promoting solidarity. The modern state mitigator of risks and promoter of well-being is a phenomenon that emerged at the end of the 19th century, originally in societies with a conservative tradition, as a way of protecting traditional institutions, but soon also in liberal societies, in response to the misery that emerged with the spread of markets as organizers of collective life. Through mobilization and, with the expansion of suffrage, political participation, organized workers were able to advance with social policies and social security mechanisms, so that, between the 1940s and 1970s, the so-called Keynesian Welfare State took shape, until today, the high point of the development of this state form. Factors such as the existence of a mass production and consumption system, a centralized and stable electoral-party system, the context of post-World War II reconstruction and an international situation of threat represented by communism also contributed to this. Due to internal contradictions, external adversities and social transformations, this arrangement, which proved to be beneficial to both capital and labour, went into crisis. From the 1980s onwards, a neoliberal reaction promoted austerity and pro-market measures. Social policies were affected by these changes, tending to assume an assistance, conditioned and focused character. Social security mechanisms, in particular, have suffered from the growing disconnection between labour contributions and benefits. Throughout this historical process, the quality and scope of welfare mechanisms, whether more or less decommodifying and stratifying, varied according to the correlation of political forces in dispute at different times and places. Currently, after the financial crisis of the late 2000s and in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are signs that suggest a possible resumption of state leading role. This, however, does not necessarily imply the return of solidarity and more substantively assured social rights.