Description
Book SynopsisThe Welfare State in Britain presents a history of British social policy from the election of Clement Attlee to the fall of Margaret Thatcher.
Michael Hill focuses upon the political processes which influenced the key reforms of the late 1940s, and the ways in which those reforms have subsequently been consolidated and undermined. He critically examines some of the theories drawn from political science which have been used to explain the growth of the welfare state in Britain. The so called 'crisis of the welfare state' that has dominated recent rhetoric is shown to have its origins in the very period when the welfare state was believed to have been created. Despite its importance for electoral politics, social policy is shown to have often been subordinate to economic and foreign policy.
The book will be essential reading for all students of social welfare and social policy as well as the political history of Britain since 1945.
Trade Review'It is lucidly-written and is recommended as a good first-year student text for introductory courses in social policy.'Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Introduction 2. Social Policy before 1945 3. The Labour Governments 1945–51 4. The Conservative Governments 1951–64 5. The Labour Governments 1964–70 6. The Conservative Government 1970–74 7. The Labour Governments 1974–79 8. Thatcher's Conservative Governments 1979–90 9. Conclusions Reference Index
