Description
Book SynopsisCompares welfare state politics before and after the Great Recession arguing that a new and lasting post-crisis dynamic has emerged where political parties once again matter for social spending. At the heart of this repoliticization are intense ideological debates over market regulation, social inequality, redistribution, and the role of the state.
Trade Review“McManus’s book marks a turning point in the political economy of the welfare state. After decades of retrenchment, the global financial crisis of 2008 caused a thorough-going ‘repoliticization’ of the welfare state. Left parties suddenly parted ways with the right on austerity and those that did not were badly punished by voters, in some cases even disappearing. Populist parties advocated more spending. In all the different welfare state worlds, politics is back. This fabulous book shows why and how.”
—Mitchell Orenstein, University of Pennsylvania
“This book provides a comparative overview of the responses to the global financial crisis and the political dynamics at work in different European welfare states. It makes a strong case for the argument that politics matter (again).”
—Elke Heins, University of Edinburgh
Table of Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Chapter 1. The Realignment of Welfare State Politics
- Chapter 2. Crisis and the Politics of Social Spending
- Chapter 3. The European Union
- Chapter 4. Germany: Continental European Welfare State
- Chapter 5. United Kingdom: Liberal Welfare State
- Chapter 6. Sweden: Nordic Welfare State
- Chapter 7. Spain: Southern European Welfare State
- Chapter 8. Czech Republic: Eastern European Welfare State
- Chapter 9: Conclusion
- References
