Open AccessSocial protection and inequality in the global South: Politics, actors and institutions
Author(s) -
Katja Hujo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
csp. critical social policy/critical social policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.433
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1461-703X
pISSN - 0261-0183
DOI - 10.1177/02610183211009899
Subject(s) - social protection , inequality , structural inequality , globalization , politics , context (archaeology) , social change , social inequality , political science , transformative learning , social policy , sustainable development , economic growth , social contract , development economics , sociology , political economy , economics , economic system , law , mathematical analysis , paleontology , pedagogy , mathematics , biology
In this themed section, we explore the links between contemporary social protection approaches and inequality in developing countries, focusing on political economy drivers and the role of actors and institutions in recent reform and implementation processes. This introduction article establishes some common ground by introducing context, concepts and questions. Reducing inequality is identified as a key condition for achieving inclusive and sustainable development as aspired in the Sustainable Development Goals governments committed to in 2015. The introduction situates the three articles in this issue, two studies of pro-poor cash transfers in the Philippines and Kenya, and an analysis of the new national minimum wage policy in South Africa, in a context of contested globalisation, increasing inequality and the social turn, a come-back of social policy as a key development instrument. After identifying the limitations and opportunities of this social turn, the article discusses the three social protection reforms and their impact on equality and social change in the different country contexts through a lens of contestation, institutions and transformative change.