Previous research visit to IIAS: 1-14 September 2011
I have been studying social law and social policy in the Netherlands with a comparative view of the two topics in Japan. Now, I focus my study on the recent reforms in social security and social welfare systems in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is considered a hybrid welfare state, that is, one that combines the Scandinavian model and the continental model. However, with globalisation in recent times, it seems that the Dutch welfare state is moving toward the Anglo-Saxon model which would limit “social solidarity” and encourage self-reliance. In such a situation, how far does this model maintain the traditional “social rights” of the people? Moreover, how will the balance between the public and the private sectors be altered in the context of policy reforms?
To find answers to these questions, I would like to research the influence that the social support act (wet maatschappelijk ondersteuning :WMO) has on welfare policies in the Netherlands. As “the support for the independent life of the people with needs” has also been promoted in the Japanese welfare policy reforms, analysing in detail the merits and limitations of the reforms in the Netherlands will help to learn the new perspectives on controversial issues common in both countries.