Theoretical and policy contexts of social policy in MENA

This chapter sets out the conceptual framework of the book. It uses three core heuristic policy concepts: membership, allocation and entitlement to analyse the social policy developments that are explored in the book. Entitlement reflects the rules or eligibility criteria by which membership of a community enables or prevents benefit from the allocation of wealth and resources. In essence, questions about membership, allocation and entitlement inevitably relate to the mutual responsibilities among state, societal and market actors in protecting against social risks and ensuring the social and individual welfare of their members. These are questions that have become ever more relevant in the MENA region and help to build connections between basic issues of human need, dignity and survival to the more conventional concerns of macro-economic policy and political stability. Hence, the chapter presents a framework for analysing the political settlements in the MENA region which includes the varying processes of bargaining, negotiation, conflict and compromise that social and political actors take part in, in order to expand or decrease access to social and public services.