The Welfare State: A Very Short Introduction

This Very Short Introduction describes the modern welfare state, explaining its historical and contemporary significance and arguing that far from being ´a failure´ or ´a problem´, welfare states are an essential element of contemporary capitalism, and a vital concomitant of democratic government. In this accessible and entertaining account, David Garland cuts through the fog of misunderstandings to explain in clear and simple terms, what welfare states are, how they work, and why they matter.