Social Work for Sociologists: Theory and Practice

Analyzing and Solving Social Problems ● 127

Explanatory Theories and Social Problems

I now consider some explanatory theories at both the social/structural and
personal levels, with the caveat that we do not hold on to fixed identities or
static understandings of theory. Three explanatory theories are considered at
the social/structural level: liberal/neoliberal theory, socialist theory, and alter-
native theory. I also consider three explanatory theories at the personal level:
cognitive-behavioral, radical, and humanist. Some of these theories are more
established than are others, and some have had significant influence in the
broad fields of health and social welfare (Nzira and Williams 2008; Shannon
and Young 2004).

Liberal/Neoliberal Theory

Liberal and neoliberal theory posit that individuals meet their own needs
through free and independent actions (Nzira and Williams 2008) and that
it is the duty and responsibility of individuals to look after themselves and
achieve their own goals. Liberal theory has individual freedom at its heart,
and the government’s role is to regulate this within the operation of a free
market, with minimal government interference, often by enabling nongov-
ernmental entities or private companies to provide services. Neoliberalism
has more emphasis on the duty and responsibility of the individual (Nzira
and Williams 2008). Under liberalism and neoliberalism, “the economy is
seen as having a self-balancing, trickle-down effect. Market mechanisms are
expected to ensure protection for all, supported by other forms of nonstate
help, while protecting individual freedom” (Nzira and Williams 2008, 65).
This theory operates through the assumption that free individuals with a
clear sense of equality enter the marketplace to buy and sell resources, both
material and nonmaterial. The processes of market competition and rational
choice ensure that “efficiency will be rewarded and in this way resources
will be made available to all and social wellbeing achieved” (Shannon and
Young 2004, 28).
In regard to any country with a high level of government involvement in
society—New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other European
countries are examples—the liberal/neoliberal view would see those coun-
tries as being dominated by inefficient governments that have misdirected
resources and stifled initiative. It would see one solution as being abolish-
ment of government intervention and the welfare state, or reduction to a
residual level. Under this theory, people are viewed as capable of meeting their
own needs, and individuals must therefore make greater efforts to become
self-supporting and efficient. Any welfare assistance people receive should
be reduced to an absolute minimum to give them the incentive to work,