From Mintoff to Muscat : a sociological analysis of Labour's welfare policies in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyse the social policies of Labour Party in Malta under Muscat's and Mintoff's leadership. Sociological theories related to various political ideologies and perspectives on welfare are going to be used to give a better understanding of the philosophies behind the social policies of the Labour Party under the two political party leaders. Qualitative methods of data collection, such as elite interviewing, are going to be used to analyse the perceptions of political elites who worked closely with the Labour party in the past, during the Mintoff era, and other politicians who are still engaged with the Labour party under Muscat. Other respondents are going to be academics and opinionists on the Labour Party’s social policies. This study concludes that the Labour party under Mintoff was built upon Social Democracy. This was evident in its social policies such as the expansion of universal welfare benefits and the redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor. On the other hand, the Labour Party under Muscat is showing Third way traits such as the belief in an enabling government and an active welfare state rather than dependency on welfare.