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Globalisation, Integration and the Future of European Welfare States

Hardback

Main Details

Title Globalisation, Integration and the Future of European Welfare States
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Theodora-Ismene Gizelis
SeriesEurope in Change
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:192
Dimensions(mm): Height 234,Width 156
ISBN/Barcode 9780719081101
ClassificationsDewey:361.65094
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations Tables, black & white|Maps|Line drawings, black & white

Publishing Details

Publisher Manchester University Press
Imprint Manchester University Press
Publication Date 11 November 2010
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

This book argues that the welfare state cannot be understood purely as a set of social policy arrangements, but must be seen as a political institution, intended to achieve certain political objectives. The political dimension of the welfare state is essential for understanding its initial emergence as well as assessing its ability to deal with contemporary challenges. Governments use welfare transfers to decrease the risk of political instability that may be politically disruptive and threaten to undermine social cohesion. The success of welfare institutions stems from their ability to foster a redistribution of resources and political consensus that has enabled long-term political stability and economic development. The book develops a general model that looks at the interactive effects between welfare transfers, political instability and state capacity. It provides a unique theoretical contribution to the study of welfare spending in the context of globalisation and integration, analyses the key politial rationale for welfare programmes, namely their role in preserving social cohesion and governance and demonstrates clearly that welfare policies can be successfully adopted to meet new challenges and that retrenchment of the welfare state is not inevitable, using Scandinavia as a leading example of modern thinking policies. -- .

Author Biography

Theodora-Ismene Gizelis is Lecturer at the Department of Government, Essex University and Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Civil War, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)