Citizenship, Community and Welfare: Impact on Housing in the UK

This essay explores the impact of citizenship, community and welfare policies on housing in the UK. It discusses the theories of modernity and late modernity, the role of citizenship in accessing housing welfare, and the risks and vulnerabilities faced by individuals. It also examines the increasing social surveillance imposed by disciplinary functions of welfare states.

Citizenship
Community
and Welfare
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
The housing market in United Kingdom is one of the most profitable sectors in the
country. In the year 2021, the housing market saw rise in 7.1% annual rise in the year 2021 with
the average price rising by 16,000 Great British Pounds (House prices: UK property market's
never ending boom, 2021). This data showcases the value of the housing market and the
importance of fair welfare laws to ensure that vulnerable communities gain benefit from the
housing market. Welfare in context of housing looks at accessibility of individuals and
community members to housing. Social welfare policies about housing are related to the concept
of citizenship as citizenship of an individual determines their inclusion in various social welfare
policies and access to housing.
The legal definition of housing states that it is place for habitation and dwelling of man.
A more succinct legal definition of the term housing is residential housing and accommodation.
Housing laws and welfare policies related to housing is recent addition to different social policies
implemented by governments for the growth and prosperity of the nation. Creation of specific
housing laws and social welfare policies started in many parts of the world after democratization
of much of the western world. The end of feudalism and starting of democratic ideas in the
western world also paved the way for development of suitable framework which looks after the
housing needs of citizens and housing demand in the region.
In the United Kingdom the housing law was formed in the year 1930 which is also known
as the Greenwood Act. The first housing act of United Kingdom included subsidies for general
housing and over the years various housing regulations have been passed in the British
parliament to ensure that the housing market and impact of hosing demand on social
environment of the country (Lombard, 2019). The regulations imposed by the government along
with other housing policies support betterment of vulnerable and marginalized communities.
This is also affected by the citizenship model of the country because citizenship is the key factor
in identifying the benefactors of welfare policies. There is also the case of social surveillance
which is attached with implementation of welfare practices and policies by states which is
imposed using different ways.
This essay looks at the concepts of citizenship, community and welfare policies in
context of housing in United Kingdom. This essay explores theories such as modernity and late
modernity to analyze impact on housing welfare. Further, theoretical models of citizenship in
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United Kingdom and its impact on housing is also discussed in the essay. The area of risk,
vulnerability and resilience in relation to housing is covered in this essay by application of
suitable theories. Finally this essay aims to understand the role of disciplinary functions of
welfare state as an agent of social surveillance.
MAIN BODY
The development of social norms,, attitudes and practices from historical period to the
contemporary period is defined as the process of modernization. It is said have begun with the
age of reason starting with the wake of renaissance in the early 17th century and the age of
enlightenment in the 18th century. The social values developed in this historical time period lead
to the shift of feudalism to setting up democratic institutions and introduction of various socio-
economic ideologies. This includes ideologies such as Marxism, socialism, capitalism and so on
which have gone to shape the current social, political and economic realities of the current world.
The primary characteristics of modernity are an emphasis upon rationality and science
over tradition and myth; a belief in progress and improvement; confidence in human mastery
over nature; a focus on humanism, individuality, and self-consciousness; a close association to
the birth and development of market capitalism; and a strong reliance upon the state and its legal
and governmental institutions. These features of modernity have shaped the ways in which
welfare policies related to various topics such as housing are developed and implemented in
contemporary age including the United Kingdom (Dwyer, 2019).
In context of United Kingdom the housing law focuses on assisting and supporting low
income citizens of the country in getting proper housing. In order to claim housing benefit the
requirements are to be low income on claiming other benefits and the minimum age is 16 years
old. Apart from this other conditions are to have less than 16,000 pounds in savings or getting
guarantee part of pension credit. The influence of modern unity can be clearly seen in the
conditions associated with claiming housing benefit in United Kingdom as it prioritizes
individuals from economically poor backgrounds so that they are also able to live their life with
dignity and achieve a specific quality of life within United Kingdom with the help of the housing
benefit.
The advantage of modernity shaping the current thousand welfare policies in the United
Kingdom is that it suppose usage of rationalism and logic for creating housing policy which
helps develop affair society for marginalized communities (Ebekozien, Abdul-Aziz and Jaafar,
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2021). On the other hand modernity is also associated with the idea of achieving economic
development and nationalism. This can negatively impact housing policies in the country as
nationalistic and economic arguments can be used for reducing benefits of welfare and housing
policies to all the residents of the country. This can lead to limiting impact of housing welfare to
some specific communities which come under the nationalistic agenda along with specific
economic ideologies such as Marxism or capitalism.
The period of late modernity started approximately in the mid 18th century and emerged
with it the beginning of contemporary history after World War Two. It includes the history of
human development whether it is in technological social economic or political sense after the end
of World War Two until today and can be considered contemporary history. As bullet modernity
theory social structures and individual agencies are not opposing forces but two sides of the same
coin. The characteristics of late modern period are creation of a post traditionalist culture where
the power of tradition is lessened in compassion too Individuals understanding their self identity
as reflective project. The structuration theory is an important theory explaining the late
modernity which states that social action depends on agency of individuals but social action is
also enabled an constrained by the rules and resources that make such action possible and
understandable to others.
The application of structuration theory in development of housing welfare policies
reveals that the government structure which implements housing welfare policies including law
enforcement institutions and the parliament of United Kingdom create constraints in usage of
rules and resources with regards to housing. This plays an important role in initiating social
action from different communities. Some communities are preferred and prioritized in housing
welfare policies of United Kingdom which animals and constraints their social actions while
others which are not included in the housing welfare policies of the country face different set of
social actions for ensuring their survival.
The advantage of late modern period on welfare provisions and policies related to
housing is that it moves away from traditionalist approach to housing and Improving ability of
individuals to make choices about how they’re going to act about their accessibility or
inaccessibility to housing (Gray, 2018). The disadvantage of late modernity influencing housing
policy is that it creates government and legal structures which limit ability of individuals to
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socially react to their housing needs and demands as the legal and governing structures around
them enable and limit their actions and agency.
The concerns imposed by government and law enforcement institutions in United
Kingdom with regards to access to housing policies are related with the citizenship model
ambulance pulls present in United Kingdom. The citizenship process in United Kingdom
subjects immigrants to requirements ostensibly intended to enhance their identification with
British values. This showcases inclination towards nationalistic perspectives of citizenship in the
country.
Generally citizenship is defined as the relationship between an individual and the state to
which the individual owns allegiance and in turn is entitled to protection. The citizens of a
country have various rights and responsibilities which they have to complete in exchange of the
social and economic development policies imposed by governments (Rzepnikowska, 2019). The
citizenship model of United Kingdom determines citizenship on the basis of birth as an
individual is classified a British citizen based on whether they were born in the UK or a British
colony before 1 January 1983.
Apart from this there are different levels of citizenship in United Kingdom which are
depended on the balance often individuals and are divided into different classes with varying
degrees of civil and political rights. This is because of the history of the country as a good loyal
empire which complicates the concept of citizenship in Britain end creates different classes of
citizenship in British nationality law.
The advantages of influence of colonialism and nationalism on British citizenship model
is that it helps me the citizenship model more inclusive by including the impact of colonial
history earn the expendable nature of British values in the citizenship system of United
Kingdom. this supports better housing welfare policies as citizenship can also be extended to
individuals who followed the ideals of British values making accessibility to housing for
immigrants easier.
However there is also a downside of nationalism and colonialism affecting the idea of
citizenship and its models in United Kingdom (Jacobs, 2019). The main disadvantage is that
inclusion of marginalized communities and communities which don't fit into the specific ideas of
British values can be constrained from accessing housing welfare policies as it does not promote
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the nationalistic politics which are also rooted in colonialism with inherited colonialist biases
towards specific communities.
In the current environment of United Kingdom both private and government institutions
impose surveillance on general public. Compared to private corporations government
institutions have better resources to utilize surveillance technologies including digital technology
to collect data about citizens and impose various governing policies with the aim of persuading
enticing coercing or cajoling subjects to modify their behavior in particular direction.
In context of the housing issues, vulnerabilities and risks created because of constraints
imposed by government institutions surveillance affect different communities. State welfare
policies focus on implementing returns with the aim of stopping in individual offender for
committing compatible acts again in the future. This makes the state welfare policies related to
housing future oriented and governing future behavior of communities and individuals with
different political aims and agendas. Institutions are able to govern the future housing landscape
and accessibility of housing to different communities whether it be refugees or immigrants or
citizens of United Kingdom on the basis of birth (Avdagic and Savage, 2021).
Vulnerabilities and risks faced by individuals because of model of citizenship and
constraints in assessing social policies can be related to different components such as political,
economical or economic components. Some economic components are debt, income and credit
while social components related to vulnerability are gender and class. In context of the housing
welfare provisions in United Kingdom, these components create risks for various sections of
society in living with dignity as they face barriers in assessing housing, food and other social
commodities. Certain sections of United Kingdom face challenges in assessing housing welfare
provisions because of political and social risks. This means that they are not able to gain any
kind of housing welfare and secure their rights in United Kingdom because of political,
economic and social barriers (Byrne and et. al., 2020).
The vulnerabilities faced by individuals when it comes to assessing housing welfare
provisions is based on social component of risk and vulnerability as gender, cultural and ethnic
identity paly an important role in accessing housing welfare policies such as low income
housing. The citizenship identity of United Kingdom is based on discriminatory elements as its
foundation is created from colonial hierarchy (Hirayama and Izuhara, 2018). This makes it
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difficult for certain groups to get effective access to lower income housing including
discrimination and prejudice faced during following the procedure of assessing housing policies.
In this way digital surveillance allows governments to gain access to personal data of each
citizen and resident of United Kingdom in order to impose a different level of social control and
influence the behavior of individuals at mass. Governments and institutions are able to clearly
define their own political meaning of British values and good citizens so that the benefactors of
housing welfare policies can be limited and determined by the government more effectively
(Jupp and Bowlby, 2019).
This enables different government institutions as well as private institutions to create
citizens who are good consumers in relation to the housing market and control housing needs in
demand by influencing welfare policies aim to improve the life of low income citizens and
decisions of United Kingdom. This can be done with the view of economic benefit as creating a
good consumer can propel economic growth. While political and social agenda can also
influence surveillance in context of welfare provisions as exclusion of specific communities
which position to political agendas like refugees can be linked with political agenda (Butler,
Oldman and Greve, 2021).
Currently the advantage of functions of welfare state increasing social surveillance is that
it provides a better understanding of housing needs any challenges individuals and specific
communities so that a better housing policy can be created for fair treatment of all citizens and
residents of United Kingdom. On the other hand there is also the disadvantage created by social
surveillance through welfare is that it can be used as a weapon against social an economic
growth in order to suit political agenda.
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CONCLUSION
From the above report it is determined that modernity and late modernity have both
influenced welfare provision in context of housing with both beneficial and negative impact. this
includes introduction of rationality while shift from traditionalist perspective of housing
provisions. Citizenship plays an important role in determining accessibility to housing welfare
as the category of citizenship in which an individual is classified average their ability to get
housing welfare easily. Individuals face various risks and well-known abilities when it comes to
accessing housing welfare which include political institutional as well as social risks cause
because of various components such as gender class and income. Finally, there is also increasing
social surveillance imposed by disciplinary functions of welfare states which enable both
government as well as private institutions to collect social data of general public. This detection
be used for improving beware of the public for future whether it is consumer behaviors to shape
good consumers of consumers in the housing market or if it is political agenda to limit
accessibility of housing welfare or specific communities.
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REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Avdagic, S. and Savage, L., 2021. Negativity bias: The impact of framing of immigration on
welfare state support in Germany, Sweden and the UK. British Journal of Political
Science, 51(2). pp.624-645.
Butler, A., Oldman, C. and Greve, J., 2021. Sheltered housing for the elderly: Policy, practice
and the consumer. Routledge.
Byrne and et. al., 2020. Ethnicity, Race and Inequality in the UK: State of the Nation (p. 316).
Dwyer, P. ed., 2019. Dealing with welfare conditionality: Implementation and effects. Policy
Press.
Ebekozien, A., Abdul-Aziz, A. R. and Jaafar, M., 2021. Low-cost housing policies and squatters
struggles in Nigeria: the Nigerian perspective on possible solutions. International
Journal of Construction Management, 21(11). pp.1088-1098.
Gray, N. ed., 2018. Rent and its discontents: a century of housing struggle. Rowman &
Littlefield.
Hirayama, Y. and Izuhara, M., 2018. Housing in post-growth society: Japan on the edge of
social transition. Routledge.
Jacobs, K., 2019. Neoliberal housing policy: An international perspective. Routledge.
Jupp, E. and Bowlby, S., 2019. The new politics of home: Housing, gender and care in times of
crisis. Policy Press.
Lombard, M., 2019. Informality as structure or agency? Exploring shed housing in the UK as
informal practice. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 43(3).
pp.569-575.
Rzepnikowska, A., 2019. Racism and xenophobia experienced by Polish migrants in the UK
before and after Brexit vote. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 45(1). pp.61-77.
Online
House prices: UK property market's never ending boom, 2021. [Online] Available through
<https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/house-prices-uk-property-markets-housing-never-
ending-boom-000142297.html?
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