The Political and Social Construction of Poverty

Download or read book The Political and Social Construction of Poverty written by Serena Romano and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2014-01-01 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first to examine the social and political construction of anti-poverty programs in Central and Eastern Europe, which has faced serious hardships as it has transitioned from communist rule to capitalism beset by economic crisis. It explores a range of different attitudes held about poverty-stricken people and illustrates how the distinction between deserving and undeserving poor has evolved over the years, effected by external pressures from groups like the European Union and World Bank. By examining poverty policies against the commonly held attitudes about the poor that have influenced them, Serena Romano offers a new understanding of the many ways that different post-communist welfare states have dealt with—and understood—citizens facing economic hardship.