New ideology and practice of social services: evaluation in the context of liberalization of social policy

Abstract

he paper focuses on the processes of social policy reforms, which are determined by the intentions of neoliberal ideologists to rationalize the relationships between the citizens and state. A trend towards rationalization was partially expressed by the new legislationon reorganization of responsibilities between the levels of authorities and monetization of privileges. Another aspect of these quite contradictory challenges is modernization of social services system. During the last few years some experiments took place in this area, in that number those supported by the international foundations and expert groups. Such innovations are directed towards the increase of effectiveness of social services as well as their managerialization. New rationalized standards often encounter the existing practices of performance and evaluation of quality and effectiveness of social services, as well as motivation of staff and methods of management, including managing quality of social services.