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43 Critical Soc. Pol'y 3 (2023)

handle is hein.journals/critsplcy43 and id is 1 raw text is: Article COVID-19 and (mis) understanding public attitudes to social security: Re-setting debate MICHAEL ORTON University of Warwick, England SUDIPA SARKAR University of Warwick, England Abstract The Covid-19 pandemic has seen emerging debate about a possible shift in 'anti-welfare commonsense' i.e. the orthodoxy previously described in this journal as solidifying negative public attitudes towards 'welfare'. While a shift in attitudes might be ascribed to the circumstances of the crisis it would still be remarkable for such a strongly established ortho- doxy to have changed quite so rapidly. It is appropriate, therefore, to reflect on whether the 'anti-welfare' orthodoxy was in fact as unequivo- cal as claimed? To address this question, challenges to the established orthodoxy that were emerging pre-pandemic are examined along with the most recently available survey data. This leads to discussion of broader issues relating to understanding attitudes: methodology; 'messi- ness' and ambivalence of attitudes; attitudes and constructions of deservingness; and following or leading opinion. It is argued that the 'anti-welfare' orthodoxy has always been far more equivocal than claimed, with consequent implications for anti-poverty action and re- setting debate. Corresponding author: Room no. C0.13, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7A. Email: s.sarkar.2@warwick.ac.uk Critical Social Policy 2023, Vol. 43(1) 3-28 © The Author(s) 2022 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-perms ons DOI: 10.1177/02610183221091553 journals.sagepub.com/home/c , OSAGE