The Role of Social Welfare Policies in Reducing Class Inequality in Libyan Society

Abstract

The research aims to identify the role of social welfare policies in reducing class inequality in Libyan society by analyzing the effectiveness of these policies in narrowing the class gap. It also seeks to reveal the institutional and social mechanisms that contribute to the reproduction of class disparities through social welfare programs. Additionally, the study examines the impact of eligibility conditions and distribution methods of social support on either reinforcing dependency or limiting social mobility opportunities for poor groups. Finally, it investigates the relationship between the nature of the economic and political systems and the pattern of social welfare, and their influence in either reinforcing or reducing class inequality. The descriptive method was adopted due to its suitability for the research objectives. The study reached the following conclusions: -The effectiveness of social welfare policies in reducing class inequality depends on the nature of the economic and political systems, the fairness of distribution, and political will accompanied by structural reforms that enhance transparency and genuine empowerment of disadvantaged groups. -Social welfare programs reflect institutional and social mechanisms that contribute to reproducing class inequality through weak targeting justice and lack of empowerment, turning them into tools that preserve the existing class structure rather than addressing it. -The conditions for obtaining social support and the method of its distribution either reinforce dependency or support social mobility, depending on the justice, transparency, and empowerment these policies provide within a comprehensive developmental vision. -The nature of the economic and political systems determines the direction and impact of social welfare; it either contributes to reducing class inequality within fair democratic systems or reproduces it within authoritarian and rentier contexts lacking transparency and accountability.