Is Conditionality Illiberal?

Abstract

Against a general consensus that welfare reform is at odds with liberalism, the question of its actual illiberalism is explored. More explicitly, the issue of the incompatibility of conditionality, essential to welfare reform, with liberalism is interrogated. It is contended that conditionality is not intrinsically illiberal. Nevertheless, the liberal does have bases for mistrusting conditionality where there is substantial contextual injustice. The justice of welfare reform therefore rests upon how extensively it is engaged with an agenda of more radical social transformation. References. K. Coddon