A Comparison of Welfare State Development in Western and Eastern Countries: Approaches to Understanding Welfare State Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v55i1.4415Keywords:
Welfare State, Western Europe, Scandinavia, East Asia, ConfucianismAbstract
This research paper examines the development of welfare states in Western and Eastern countries to address whether adopting the success of Western welfare states as a model is sufficient and appropriate for establishing a welfare state in Thailand. The study compares the development of welfare states in Western Europe, including the UK, France and Scandinavia, with those in advanced Asian economies such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. By focusing on the similarities and differences between these groups, the research employs a Historical Institutional Approach, emphasizing ideological and institutional structural factors. The findings reveal that welfare states vary significantly, and historical institutional contexts heavily influence their developmental trajectories. Thailand cannot entirely replicate other states' models; instead, it must understand its own context and history, adapting solutions to address current social issues. Additionally, institutional changes in welfare ideologies, economic structures, society, politics, and culture require decades or even centuries to fully evolve.
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