The Welfare State Reader

The Welfare State Reader

by Christopher Pierson (Editor), Francis G . Castles (Editor)

Synopsis

"The Welfare State Reader" has rapidly established itself as vital source of outstanding original research. In the second edition of this highly respected Reader, Pierson and Castles have comprehensively overhauled the content, bringing it wholly up-to-date with contemporary discussions about this most crucial area of social and political life. The book includes fifteen new and carefully edited selections, all reflecting the very latest thinking and research in welfare state studies. These readings are organized around a series of current debates on welfare regimes, on globalization, on Europeanization, on demographic change and the political challenges of the new century.There are also two substantial sections devoted to the futures of welfare assessing the new risks and new opportunities that confront policy-makers in an increasingly complex political environment. Each part, as well as the volume overall, is set in context by an editorial introduction. As well as bringing together classic debates, "The Welfare State Reader" constitutes an invaluable guide to what is happening at the cutting edge of welfare research. Read either independently or alongside the third edition of Pierson's "Beyond the Welfare State", it will give the reader an unrivalled overview of debates surrounding the welfare state.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
Publisher: Polity Press
Published: 27 Jan 2000

ISBN 10: 0745622534
ISBN 13: 9780745622538

Media Reviews
While maintaining several original contributions, in this second and updated version of their Welfare State Reader, Pierson and Castles have collated a masterful compendium of classic texts and important recent contributions to the contemporary and comparative analysis of welfare states. Preceded by useful introductions to each section, the volume covers traditional theories and perspectives, evolving debates and new political responses to enduring and recent challenges to maintaining social policy provision at a large scale. The result is an essential and invaluable resource for students, teachers and researchers interested in the development and the future of modern welfare states.
Author Bio
Christopher Pierson is Professor of Politics at the University of Nottingham and Francis Castles is Professor of Political Science in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University, Canberra.