The Foundations of the Welfare State

Foundations of the Welfare State is a completely revised and updated version of the highly acclaimed first edition published in 1982. Since then dramatic changes in society and the nature of social problems which confront the welfare state have been paralleled by new approaches to the teaching of social policy. In this second edition the author integrates new research findings and reorientates the arguments of the book to give greater emphasis to the continuing importance of voluntary action and the role of women.

Pat Thane is Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Sussex.