Do we have a new welfare state? If so, when did this change occur? What factors influenced change? The book brings together a wide range of diverse material, and provides descriptive, analytical and explanatory perspectives on welfare change. It moves beyond both descriptive, historical accounts of the welfare state, and theoretical, abstract accounts to integrate them within a coherent structure. This book brings a new perspective to the study of social policy, and is designed for students of social policy, social work, politics, policy studies and public administration.