
Global Social Protection
Institutional Perspectives
Edward Elgar Publishing
Published on 18. November 2025
Book
Hardback
212 pages
978-1-80037-135-4 (ISBN)
Description
This innovative book provides a multidisciplinary institutional approach to social protection, combining insights from economics, law, philosophy, political science, and sociology. It examines the role of institutions in the effective functioning of social protection systems and explores the factors driving or hindering institutional change.
Expert authors investigate the rationales that underpin social protection, emphasising institutional design and the need to address the transformation of social protection systems in low- and middle-income countries. They assess the role of social protection in tackling poverty and social exclusion in these nations, as well as the challenges of operational barriers and limited coverage. Chapters blend conceptual insights with empirical applications to highlight the complementary nature of diverse institutional research. Ultimately, the book addresses the ethical considerations and international legal standards of social protection and concludes that a renewed framework is required to improve human rights globally.
Presenting a holistic understanding of the field, Global Social Protection is a vital read for scholars and students of comparative social policy, sociology of development, and development studies. It will also benefit policymakers and practitioners engaged in social protection and development cooperation.
Expert authors investigate the rationales that underpin social protection, emphasising institutional design and the need to address the transformation of social protection systems in low- and middle-income countries. They assess the role of social protection in tackling poverty and social exclusion in these nations, as well as the challenges of operational barriers and limited coverage. Chapters blend conceptual insights with empirical applications to highlight the complementary nature of diverse institutional research. Ultimately, the book addresses the ethical considerations and international legal standards of social protection and concludes that a renewed framework is required to improve human rights globally.
Presenting a holistic understanding of the field, Global Social Protection is a vital read for scholars and students of comparative social policy, sociology of development, and development studies. It will also benefit policymakers and practitioners engaged in social protection and development cooperation.
Reviews / Votes
'This fascinating and important book brings fresh insights to our understanding of social protection as a global policy phenomenon. Contributors explore the central role of institutions, from informal community mechanisms to international human rights law. Social protection emerges as a nuanced interaction between technical challenges and political dynamics. A must-read.' -- Stephen Devereux, Institute of Development Studies, UKMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-80037-135-4 (9781800371354)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Katja Bender, Professor of Economics, International Centre for Sustainable Development (IZNE) and Department of Management Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Germany and Markus Kaltenborn, Professor of Public Law, Faculty of Law and Institute of Development Research and Development Policy (IEE), Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
Content
Contents
List of contributors vii
1 Introduction to global social protection 1
Katja Bender and Markus Kaltenborn
PART I INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN OF SOCIAL PROTECTION
2 Social protection institutions from an economic perspective:
social accountability and institutional effectiveness 17
Katja Bender and Callistus Agbaam
3 Social protection institutions from a political science
perspective 40
Luis Hernan Vargas Faulbaum
4 Social protection institutions from a sociological perspective:
informal social protection 63
Barbara Rohregger
5 The legal framework of institutional change in social
protection systems 86
Irene Among, Markus Kaltenborn, and Natalia Zakhachenko
PART II EXPLAINING INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IN
SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS
6 Analytical tools for thinking about institutional changes in
social protection from a political science perspective 111
Natalia Guimaraes Duarte Satyro and Iris Gomes dos Santos
7 Institutional change in social protection systems: ideas,
transnational actors, political institutions, and policy feedback
in sub-Saharan Africa 133
Daniel Beland, Michael Kpessa-Whyte, and Ishmael Wireko
PART III NORMATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL PROTECTION
8 Social justice and social protection systems 154
Gottfried Schweiger
9 Social protection in international human rights law 169
Michael G. Marcondes Smith, Marion Sandner, and Wouter
Vandenhole
List of contributors vii
1 Introduction to global social protection 1
Katja Bender and Markus Kaltenborn
PART I INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN OF SOCIAL PROTECTION
2 Social protection institutions from an economic perspective:
social accountability and institutional effectiveness 17
Katja Bender and Callistus Agbaam
3 Social protection institutions from a political science
perspective 40
Luis Hernan Vargas Faulbaum
4 Social protection institutions from a sociological perspective:
informal social protection 63
Barbara Rohregger
5 The legal framework of institutional change in social
protection systems 86
Irene Among, Markus Kaltenborn, and Natalia Zakhachenko
PART II EXPLAINING INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IN
SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS
6 Analytical tools for thinking about institutional changes in
social protection from a political science perspective 111
Natalia Guimaraes Duarte Satyro and Iris Gomes dos Santos
7 Institutional change in social protection systems: ideas,
transnational actors, political institutions, and policy feedback
in sub-Saharan Africa 133
Daniel Beland, Michael Kpessa-Whyte, and Ishmael Wireko
PART III NORMATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL PROTECTION
8 Social justice and social protection systems 154
Gottfried Schweiger
9 Social protection in international human rights law 169
Michael G. Marcondes Smith, Marion Sandner, and Wouter
Vandenhole