Скачать или смотреть Empowerment through welfare policy - short

In her talk "Empowerment through Welfare Policy," Coco Huggins critically examines the UK's current welfare system. She argues that despite reforms aimed at fairness and poverty reduction, such as Universal Credit, the system often contributes to declining living standards, rising poverty (particularly among children), and widespread destitution. Huggins posits that the system lacks a coherent ideological framework and consistent values, leading to its failure in meeting basic human needs and upholding dignity for many individuals.

As a corrective, Huggins proposes that Christian faith offers three crucial contributions to re-envisioning welfare policy. Firstly, it provides a concrete set of principles: the inherent dignity and worth of every individual as made in God's image; a commitment to justice and fairness in policy application; and the necessity of grace and forgiveness, acknowledging human fallibility rather than resorting to immediately punitive measures. These principles challenge dehumanizing rhetoric and call for policies reflecting intrinsic human value.

Secondly, Christian faith inspires vital practices. While churches and faith-based organizations commendably provide practical support (e.g., food banks, warm hubs) and engage in advocacy against poverty, Huggins, referencing Martin Luther King Jr., cautions that such philanthropy must not obscure the systemic economic injustices that necessitate it, nor allow the state to retreat from its core responsibilities.

Thirdly, in a policy landscape often marked by despair among both policymakers and those affected, Christianity offers profound hope and new imaginaries. It provides a vision for a better future, challenging the notion that current deficiencies are unchangeable and fostering a belief in the possibility of a more just and compassionate society. Huggins concludes that these faith-rooted contributions can help build a welfare system that truly empowers individuals by restoring dignity, ensuring basic needs are met, and cultivating hope.