Conditional and Unconditional Universalism

Abstract

Abstract Universalism means different things to different international organizations and national political elites. Whilst the most strident champions of universalism use it as a vehicle to push for an unconditional individual right to financial support from the state, the predominant view among African political elites emphasizes the conditionality of social protection on the fulfillment of responsibilities to the family, community, or nation. This is not so much a repudiation of universalism as an alternative understanding of the universality of duties as well as rights. The gap between the norms underlying some (but not all) international organizations and those that predominate among the political elites who control national policymaking inhibits the expansion of social protection across Africa.