Social policy refers to a government initiative, central or local, that aims to meet the welfare needs of the population. They govern many areas of social life such as educations and health and aim to address social problems such as racism and youth offending. Giddens (2001) states that there are four benefits to studying sociology which make up why it informs social policy. Firstly, sociological study can develop understanding of social situations both factually, allowing development of judgement or theory, and theoretically, enabling us to provide and explanation as to why something is happening. Secondly, it can inform policymakers of perspectives that are different from their own, such as the awareness of cultural differences, from this discrimination can be combatted, for example, governments have tackled discrimination against disability and ethnic minorities through social policy. Thirdly, sociological research helps to assess the results of policy initiatives, all government initiatives require evidence that programmes they have put into place are working. Finally, sociology may generate greater self-understanding, this knowledge allows people to reflect upon their experiences of life which may lead to questioning of government policies and creation of protest groups with non-government initiatives enabling people to liberate themselves, for example sociology has shown the extent to which homosexuals have been discriminated, as a result the gay community demanded gay rights, showing that they were empowered by this knowledge and allowing them to do something to change social policy. Left Realists argue the results of local victims surveys help find practical solutions to crime. Sociologists who work for government departments or local government authorities such as police forces are often involved in shaping or evaluating social policy, for example, researchers at the Home Office have recently been involved in assessing the successfulness of ASBOs and the electronic tagging of offenders. They also argue that sociologists have an indirect role in gathering opinions from areas of society, the government can then act upon this advice. For example, evidence of cultural deprivation in England has led to new educational policies such as Educational Priority areas. Functionalists and Positivists argue sociologists should have an influence as well. Early Functionalist's and Positivist's such as Comte and Durkheim see the sociologist's main job as to provide the state with objective, scientific knowledge, by doing this sociologists can provide the necessary information on which the state bases its policies, they see the state as serving the interests of society as a whole. However, it is difficult to ever be wholly objective as positivists suggest, for example, Durkheim’s study of suicide – his friend committed suicide, therefore making his study rather personal and therefore subjective. Social Democrats share the functionalist perspective, pointing to specific research which has helped social policy. For example, Townsend identified the causes of poverty with surveys of over 2000 households in the UK. This led to greater distribution of wealth and welfare reforms. Postmodernists reject the functionalist view claiming that sociologists are in no position to make social policy recommendations. They argue that this is because it is not possible to objectively identify the truth and therefore all sociological knowledge is uncertain, and so there is no valid basis for sociological policy intervention. This has led Bauman to claim that in postmodern times sociologists should merely take the role of interpreters and can not and should not be seen as legislators. Postmodernists are not the only meta narrative that do not believe that social policy and sociology are linked. Marxists also reject functionalism saying that sociology is too intertwined with the capitalist system to make a difference to society, they believe the study of sociology is a tool used to justify unfair and unequal social policy. According to Marxists, research is controlled by the ruling class interests, which prevents it being used to change the system to socialism. They claim sociology is being ‘bought’, for example Marxists believe that the Townsends reports which led to welfare increase is an attempt to 'buy off' the proletariat and stop a revolution. Marxists state that sociology is being used to justify social policy designed to further oppress and marginalise the working classes. Feminists disagree further that sociology and social policies can be combined. They argue that sociological research cannot improve the lives of women in a patriarchal society. Radical feminists believe that patriarchal society must be dismantled before women’s lives can ever be improved. Socialist feminists claim that social policy oppresses women in particular – they argue it undervalues women’s labour and assumes they will bear the double burden of work and housework. Conversely, Liberal feminists do believe that sociological research and analysis has influenced governments and had beneficial results for women’s lives, for example, the UK has developed social policy designed to improve the status of women and make them equal in all spheres of social life including employment and benefits. Although centre left sociologists are often keen to make social policy recommendations their views are restricted and not always listened to. For example, the government not only ruled out the Black Reports recommendations on the ground of cost, but restricted the publication of what was seen to be a politically embarrassing report. The policies which sociologists may wish to put forward may be compromised by their funding agencies, and they will not wish to challenge them. However, some theorists, such as Giddens have had a major effect in shaping government policy, he was instrumental in 'third way' policies which had a big influence on the New Labour governments of the 1990s and early 21st century.