The new edition of the bestselling guide to the issues students will encounter in the study of social policy in both the UK and abroad
Fully updated and expanded, the sixth edition of The Student’s Companion to Social Policy remains the most accessible and comprehensive review of UK and comparative social policy available for undergraduate students. Written and edited by leading experts in the field, this authoritative textbook covers all the perspectives, debates, issues and challenges in both the theory and practice of social policy.
The latest edition reflects the most recent developments in the discipline and in social policy-making. New and revised chapters examine critical topics such as the policy agenda of the UK government elected in 2019 and the implications of globalization, climate change, Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. A wealth of new and revised illustrative material, including additional problem-centred review and assignment questions, enhance students’ learning and comprehension whilst encouraging them to reflect on and reconsider the issues raised in each social policy discussion. A timely, issue-driven overview for students to draw upon throughout their studies, this acclaimed textbook:
- Provides the analytical foundation necessary to investigate and evaluate the key concepts and perspectives central to the study of social policy
- Presents up-to-date coverage of policy formation and outcomes, national and international debates and the challenges and choices facing societies
- Features new and revised coverage of key issues including international and comparative developments, austerity and post-austerity policies in the UK and devolved administrations, public attitudes to welfare and sustainability challenges
- Offers a range of pedagogical tools such as boxed 5-point summary overviews, “Emerging Issues” sections, guides to further resources and chapter review questions
The Student’s Companion to Social Policy, Sixth Edition is essential reading for all those on Social Policy courses, whether specialising in the subject or studying it as part of another programme across the social sciences at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Table of Contents
Notes on Contributors xi
Introduction 1
Part I Concepts and Approaches 3
1 What is Social Policy? 5
Pete Alcock
2 Researching Social Policy 11
Vikki McCall
3 Social Needs, Social Problems, Social Welfare and Well-being 18
Nick Manning
4 Equality, Rights and Social Justice 24
Peter Taylor-Gooby
5 Human Rights and Equality 31
Deirdre Flanigan and Alison Hosie
6 Efficiency, Equity and Choice 38
Carol Propper
7 Citizenship 45
Peter Dwyer
8 Changing Behaviour 52
Jessica Pykett
Part II Key Perspectives 59
9 Neoliberalism 61
Nick Ellison
10 The Conservative Tradition 67
Hugh Bochel
11 Social Democracy 73
Robert M. Page
12 The Socialist Perspective 79
Hartley Dean
13 Feminist Perspectives 86
Shona Hunter
14 Social Movements 92
Louisa Parks
15 Postmodernist Perspectives 98
Enrico Reuter
Part III Historical Context 105
16 Nineteenth-century Beginnings 107
Bernard Harris
17 The Liberal Era and the Growth of State Welfare 113
Lee Gregory
18 The Modern Welfare State, 1940-1974 119
Robert M. Page
19 Crisis, Retrenchment and the Impact of Neoliberalism, 1976-1997 125
Howard Glennerster
20 Modernisation and the Third Way, 1997-2010 131
Martin Powell
21 Austerity Politics and Beyond 137
Martin Powell
Part IV Devolution and Social Policy in the United Kingdom 143
22 Social Policy and Devolution 145
Richard Parry
23 Social Policy in Northern Ireland 152
Ann Marie Gray and Derek Birrell
24 Social Policy in Scotland 159
Lynne Poole
25 Social Policy in Wales 166
Paul Chaney
Part V Contemporary Context and Challenges 173
26 The Climate Change and Sustainability Challenge 175
Adeline Otto
27 The Demographic Challenge 182
Jane Falkingham and Athina Vlachantoni
28 The Economic Context 190
Kevin Farnsworth and Zoë Irving
29 The Role of Religion 197
Rana Jawad
30 Divisions and Difference 203
Peter Matthews and Sharon Wright
31 ‘Race’, Minority Ethnic Groups and Social Welfare 209
Steve Iafrati
32 Poverty and Social Exclusion 216
Simon Pemberton and Gerardo Javier Arriaga-García
33 The Distribution of Welfare 222
John Hills
Part VI Welfare Production and Provision 229
34 State Welfare 231
Catherine Bochel
35 Paying for Welfare 237
Howard Glennerster
36 Taxation and Social Policy 244
Micheál L. Collins, Sally Ruane and Adrian Sinfield
37 Commercial Welfare 252
Chris Holden
38 Occupational Welfare 258
Margaret May
39 Civil Society Organisations and Welfare 266
Rob Macmillan
40 Informal Welfare 272
Stacey Rand
41 Welfare Users and Social Policy 280
Catherine Needham
Part VII Welfare Governance 287
42 The Policy Process 289
Hugh Bochel
43 Managing and Delivering Welfare 295
Ian Greener
44 Accountability for Welfare 301
Jackie Gulland
45 Local and Regional Governance 308
Guy Daly and Howard Davis
Part VIII Welfare Domains 315
46 Income Maintenance and Social Security 317
Stephen McKay and Karen Rowlingson
47 Employment 324
Adam Whitworth and Eleanor Carter
48 Healthcare 331
Catherine Marchand
49 Public Health 338
Tina Haux
50 Education in Schools 345
Elizabeth Cookingham Bailey
51 Lifelong Learning and Training 352
Claire Callender
52 Housing 359
David Mullins and Halima Sacranie
53 Social Care 366
Jon Glasby
54 Criminal Justice 373
Tim Newburn
Part IX Experiencing Welfare 381
55 Experiences of Working-age Benefits 383
Ruth Patrick
56 Family Policy 389
Tina Haux
57 Children 395
Kitty Stewart
58 Young People 401
Aniela Wenham and Bob Coles
59 Older People 408
Kate Hamblin
60 Disability 414
Mark Priestley
61 Migrants 420
Rebecca E. Murray
Part X International and Comparative Context 427
62 Comparative and International Analysis 429
Margaret May
63 Policy Learning and Transfer 436
Laura Bainbridge and John Hudson
64 The European Union and Social Policy 442
Linda Hantrais
65 Social Policy in Europe 449
Daniel Clegg
66 Social Policy in the United States 455
Phillip M. Singer and Scott L. Greer
67 Social Policy in East Asia 462
Misa Izuhara and Wenjing Zhang
68 Social Policy in the BRICS countries 469
Rebecca Surender and Amrit Virk
69 Social Policy in the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) 476
Rana Jawad
70 Social Policy in Low-income Countries 485
Patricia Kennett and Angelique Retief
71 Globalisation, International Organisations and Social Policy 494
Nicola Yeates
Appendix: The Social Policy Association (SPA) 501
Index 503
