What does this research mean for the field?

Global social policy remains essential for addressing increasingly transnational risks and inequalities, despite persistent challenges such as the need to strengthen Global South perspectives and decolonize the field. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the 25-year evolution of global social policy as an academic discipline and policy arena, assessing core welfare themes, theoretical models, and future challenges.

September 5, 2026Global Social Policy

Global Social Policy at 25—Lessons, legacies and new directions

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Authors

MUMarianne S. Ulriksen SCSarah Cook TATuba İ. Ağartan

Discussion

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Overview

Review traces 25 years of global social policy frameworks across transnational welfare systems, highlighting the need to decolonize scholarship and tackle emerging climate and digital risks.

Key Points

To evaluate the 25-year evolution of global social policy as an academic discipline and policy arena, assessing core welfare themes, theoretical models, and future challenges.
Conducted a 25-year retrospective thematic and conceptual review of global social policy literature and institutional practice.
Analyzed established welfare agendas (such as pensions, healthcare, cash transfers, and migration) alongside emerging concerns, including eco-social policy and artificial intelligence.
Traced key conceptual advances in policy diffusion, ideational approaches, and multi-scalar analyses of social policy reform triggered by global crises.
Identified critical gaps in representation, emphasizing an urgent mandate to decolonize scholarship and integrate Global South perspectives amid rising multilateral retrenchment.

Cite This Study

Ulriksen et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd4126b95aff0620eb723 https://doi.org/10.1177/14680181261485766

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September 5, 2026Global Social Policy

Global Social Policy at 25—Lessons, legacies and new directions

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

MUMarianne S. Ulriksen SCSarah Cook TATuba İ. Ağartan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Review traces 25 years of global social policy frameworks across transnational welfare systems, highlighting the need to decolonize scholarship and tackle emerging climate and digital risks.

Key Points

To evaluate the 25-year evolution of global social policy as an academic discipline and policy arena, assessing core welfare themes, theoretical models, and future challenges.
Conducted a 25-year retrospective thematic and conceptual review of global social policy literature and institutional practice.
Analyzed established welfare agendas (such as pensions, healthcare, cash transfers, and migration) alongside emerging concerns, including eco-social policy and artificial intelligence.
Traced key conceptual advances in policy diffusion, ideational approaches, and multi-scalar analyses of social policy reform triggered by global crises.
Identified critical gaps in representation, emphasizing an urgent mandate to decolonize scholarship and integrate Global South perspectives amid rising multilateral retrenchment.

Cite This Study

Ulriksen et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd4126b95aff0620eb723 https://doi.org/10.1177/14680181261485766

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark