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Determinants of Public Support for Eco-Social Policies: A Comparative Theoretical Framework

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2021

Dimitri Gugushvili  and
Adeline Otto
Dimitri Gugushvili
Affiliation:
Institute for Social and Political Opinion Research, Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Belgium E-mail: dimitri.gugushvili@kuleuven.be
Adeline Otto
Affiliation:
Social Policy and Social Work Team, Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Belgium E-mail: adeline.otto@kuleuven.be
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Abstract

Global warming and some climate change policies pose additional social risks that necessitate novel responses from the welfare state. Eco-social policies have significant potential to address these challenges, but their wide-scale adoption will depend, among other factors, on public support. In the current article, we theorise how public opinion about eco-social policies is likely to be influenced by a set of contextual and individual-level factors, as well as the perceived welfare deservingness of the target groups. Alongside contributing to the emerging body of literature on eco-social policies, this theoretical framework could help policymakers to anticipate the social groups that will support or oppose eco-social policy agendas and how some of the contradictions could be reduced through policy design.

Keywords

Eco-social policiespublic opinionwelfare stateclimate changeglobal warming
Type
Article
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 22 , Issue 1: THEMED SECTION: Personalisation and Collaboration: Dual Tensions in Individualised Funding Policy for Older and Disabled Persons , January 2023 , pp. 1 - 15
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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