ABSTRACT
The welfare state social consensus which united social-policy makers over the twentieth century emerged from the 'historic compromise' between labor and capital in the earlier part of the century. The normative framework institutionalized at that time was based upon a shared value system built around the 'picket fence' ideal. Along with the political and civil rights afforded all citizens, T. H. Marshall argued that citizens should also be entitled to social rights as a way of ensuring all people in a society felt part of the political community. These social rights included the rights to whatever was needed by way of education, health and social security for the citizen to participate fully in society. The welfare state social consensus has been unraveled under the impact of globalization. Unemployment and the mobility of capital have undermined the power balance between labor and capital which was kept in check by the trade union movement organizing at the level of nation-states.
