"third Way" Under The Guidance Of The Contemporary British Welfare And Education Reform

From the angle of the main beneficiaries of British welfare and education reforms under the Third Way, this paper analyses their state and learn something from the places that are worth to be learned.This paper is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the origins and the current situation of the theory of the Third Way and also its developments in Europe, the life and their main views about the Third Way of Giddens and Blair, and the summary of study with the theory and the reform. The paper points out that Giddens advocate to build a social investment society on the basis of equality, the limited rule of the elite, the rejuvenation of civil liberties,"beyond the labor community,"and a positive social-welfare policies. Blair, under the guidance of this theory in the United Kingdom launched this"Blair revolution."The second chapter describes the reform of the British welfare system under the guidance of the theory of the Third Way. After 50 years, the British welfare state system goals are not achieved, it made serious social injustice and the widening gap between rich and poor. For this, Blair's government designs a policy of"from welfare to work". In this reform, social responsibility and social justice aspects are highly stressed. The reform has made certain achievements.Chapter 3 presents British education reform under the guidance of the theory of the third way. To promote the development of education in the United Kingdom and to maintain its dominant position in the world's science and technology competition, Blair's government has drawn up a series of reform measures, including: increasing the state's investment in education, promoting Cooperation between the individual, the schools and the government for the development of education in raising additional funds; starting"Education Action Zone"in the backward areas; vocational education and lifelong education. At the same time, it supports the disadvantaged students from all the sides.Chapter 4 is about the evaluation of British welfare and education reforms under the guidance of the Third Way. I believe that, in evaluating any social reforms or improvements, the most fundamental criterion is whether these reforms or improvements to the middle and lower classes of society have brought great benefits for masses of working people, not just confined to the narrow grounds on which such a system is modification or reform. Blair's government re-established the relationship between fairness and efficiency in the reform, and turned negative welfare to be positive welfare, supported education, improved the personal ability, continuously created opportunities for citizens. This reflects the good characteristics of a service-oriented government and also is worth to be learned for the other countries.