Theorising Welfare: Enlightenment and Modern Society

Why theorise welfare? What are the advantages and disadvantages of different perspectives on welfare? How would you recognise a theory of welfare if you saw one? This accessible introductory text shows how debates about welfare systems and provision are about much more than the organisation of services or benefits; they are also about how societies do and should develop and change and how major social divisions - such as class, gender, ethnicity or sexuality - are affected by change.