The Politics of Welfare in the Global South

Abstract

Abstract This chapter sets the foundation for a nuanced critique of welfare systems in the Global South, contrasting with the conventional frameworks and discourses rooted in the experiences of countries in the Organisation Economic Cooperation and Development. It examines the distinct evolution of systems of welfare in the Global South—as shaped by colonial histories, political contestation, and global economic trends, thereby emphasizing the complex relationship between political dynamics and welfare policies. The narrative problematizes the applicability of traditional welfare discourses to the South's realities, arguing for a context-sensitive analysis that fosters a more inclusive theorization and equitable practice of welfare to bridge global divides. The chapter critically addresses the challenges in defining social security, protection, and assistance in the Global South, arguing that these concepts are entangled with the global political economy and advocating for a broader, non-Western-centric understanding of welfare. Overall, the chapter provides an overview of the book’s contributions to the welfare discourses in the Global South, highlighting the influence of politics, state capacity and legitimacy, and the global aid apparatus on welfare in a context of ‘endemic corruption’ and economic informality. It calls for a reimagined approach to welfare that acknowledges the unique sociopolitical and economic contexts of the Global South within a universal grammar of the evolution of welfare.