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The Social Division of Welfare Surveillance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2008

PAUL HENMAN  and
GREG MARSTON
PAUL HENMAN
Affiliation:
Social Policy Unit, School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia email: [email protected], [email protected]
GREG MARSTON
Affiliation:
Social Policy Unit, School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia email: [email protected], [email protected]
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Abstract

Electronic surveillance has grown rapidly in recent years. Despite this, surveillance practices and their social products are yet to receive serious attention in the academic field of social policy. Extending Titmuss’ classical articulation of the social division of welfare, this article develops the notion of the social division of welfare surveillance to point to the way in which surveillance, compliance burdens and risk management unevenly operate within society. The implications for reinforcing social divisions and critical social policy analysis are discussed.

Type
Article
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , April 2008 , pp. 187 - 205
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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