Social Public Policy: Reflections from the Perspective of Social Welfare Theories and History

Abstract

This paper reflects on social public policies from the perspective of three theories of social welfare: welfare and happiness, pleasure and quality of life; and, a line of research known as the history of social welfare. fte reflection aims to acknowledge that professionals of Social Sciences and other related professions need to unravel the fundamentals and possible impacts that each intervention in the policies can generate. For instance, the paper presents the experience of the Colombian State, especially the social intervention implemented in Medellin at the onset of the twentieth century which considered the assistance of marginal population groups. Therefore, this paper presents reflections on the changes and remnants of the policies and practices challenged by contemporary social problems, which justifies the need to theorize on the relation between social welfare and public policies that intend to change problematic social realities.