European Foundations of the Welfare State

"This book renders accessible a rich set of essays on the past and future development of the welfare state in Europe - and is essential reading." * from the Foreword "The author belongs to a handful of leading German sociologists. While his international reputation is undisputed, much of his work is not available in English. This collection is an excellent introduction to his work that combines systematic and historical approaches, is highly theoretical (also with respect to the history of social theory), but at the same time based on a profound knowledge of empirical material.." * Jurgen Kocka, Zentrum fur Zeithistorische Forschung Potsdam