Synopses & Reviews
This introductory text sets out seven important theoretical perspectives through which to make sense of historical and contemporary changes in, and struggles around, social welfare systems and provisions. Through examination of liberalism, Marxism, neo-liberalism, post-structuralism, political economy, political ecology, and postmodernism, the authors provide an introduction to the theoretical frameworks within which the sociological perspectives on welfare have been formulated. At the same time they highlight some of the social and political contexts within which the concepts, categories, and logics of these theories are situated. They also examine core issues such as the point of theory in the analysis of welfare and present definitions of theory, social welfare, the welfare state, and the state. The book shows how social theories construct the relationships between state, society, economy, culture, environment, production, consumption, and other forms of individual and collective action and experience. It is specifically written for social policy studentsuto lay the foundation of knowledge that will inform every facet of their undergraduate work.
Synopsis
′ Theorising Welfare is very well written and painstakingly clear. It is an accessible and original textbook on the welfare state and the idea of welfare. There is nothing available like it in terms of its scope and intellectual sweep′ -
Scott Lash, University of Lancaster
There are many interpretations of welfare and welfare states, each providing insights into different aspects of welfare and pointing to different possibilities for its future. Theorising Welfare provides a guide to these debates through an examination of seven theoretical perspectives - liberalism, Marxism, neo-liberalism, post-structuralism, political economy, political ecology and postmodernism - situating them within their histor