Welfare Policy in Britain

DAVID GLADSTONE Director of Undergraduate Programmes in Social Policy, University of Bristol PAUL JOHNSON Reader in Economic History, London School of Economics and Political Science JANE LEWIS Professor of Social Policy, London School of Economics JOHN MACNICOL Reader in Social Policy, Royal Holloway, University of London CHRIS PIERSON Professor of Politics, University of Nottingham LORD PLANT Master of St Catherine's College Oxford SAMIT SAGGAR Senior Lecturer in Government, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London JOHN VEIT-WILSON Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, University of Northumbria and Visiting Professor, Department of Social Policy, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The welfare state arouses controversy whether attention is focused on its recent past or future development. Leading experts in welfare history draw together the latest research in essays combining broad policy surveys and detailed case studies. The history of the British welfare state suggests that the traditional approach has been too narrow.The welfare state arouses controversy whether attention is focused on its recent past or future development. Leading experts in welfare history draw together the latest research in essays combining broad policy surveys and detailed case studies. The key questions are 'What is a welfare state?' and 'How can it best be analysed?'. The history of the British welfare state suggests that the traditional approach has been too narrow. Current policy should be informed by a greater sense of history.