From developmentalism to inclusionism: On the transformation of Latin American welfare regimes in the early 21st century

Abstract

The paper analyzes the change in Latin American welfare regimes during the first decade of the 21st century. It reviews literature on the development and adaptation of classical welfare regime categories to other regions of the world, and revises selected Latin American scholarly production on welfare regimes. It suggests that, behind typologies and normative assessments there are underlying common features in the region's historical welfare regimes that can be well understood as forms of 'problematic inclusion'. It concludes by stressing the existence of sufficient elements to affirm there is a contemporary 'inclusionist' trend, cutting across ideological and political lines, that is making important contributions in the reduction of 'problematic inclusion'.