A comparative study of the theories on poverty causes based on Islam view and the three schools of Liberalism, Socialism, and the Welfare State

Poverty is a major social and economic disorder resolving of which requires the application of various policies in different areas. One of the prerequisites for the success of these policies is their design based on accurate identification of the causes. The present study, by collecting data in a library format and describing and analyzing their content, has conducted a comparative study of the views of Imam Ali (AS) and the three schools of liberalism, socialism, and the welfare state on the causes of poverty so that while revealing the reason for the differences or similarities in the poverty alleviation policies of these views, help in design and implementation of the most efficient and appropriate poverty alleviation policies. Based on the findings of the present study, the causes of poverty from Imam Ali perspective, is not focused on individual shortcomings, like liberalism, nor on structural shortcomings, like socialism; but rather, like the welfare state, it pays attention to both aspects. However, some of the causes of poverty in the three schools of liberalism, socialism, and the welfare state are acceptable, and some are unacceptable, based on Imam Ali’s perspective.