The Student’s Companion to Social Policy

Pete Alcock is Emeritus Professor of Social Policy and Administration at the University of Birmingham, UK. He retired in 2016 after teaching and researching in the field for over forty years, and his research covered the fields of poverty and anti-poverty policy, social security, and the role of the UK third sector. He is author and editor of a number of leading books on social policy including Why we need Welfare: Collective Action for the Common Good, (2016), Social Policy in Britain (5th edition, with L. Gregory, due 2022), International Social Policy: Welfare Regimes in the Developed World (2nd edition, 2009, with G. Craig), and Understanding Poverty (3rd edition, 2006).

The new edition of the bestselling guide to the issues students will encounter in the study of social policy in both the UK and abroadFully 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 questionsThe 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.

Notes on Contributors xiIntroduction 1Part I Concepts and Approaches 31 What is Social Policy? 5Pete Alcock2 Researching Social Policy 11Vikki McCall3 Social Needs, Social Problems, Social Welfare and Well-being 18Nick Manning4 Equality, Rights and Social Justice 24Peter Taylor-Gooby5 Human Rights and Equality 31Deirdre Flanigan and Alison Hosie6 Efficiency, Equity and Choice 38Carol Propper7 Citizenship 45Peter Dwyer8 Changing Behaviour 52Jessica PykettPart II Key Perspectives 599 Neoliberalism 61Nick Ellison10 The Conservative Tradition 67Hugh Bochel11 Social Democracy 73Robert M. Page12 The Socialist Perspective 79Hartley Dean13 Feminist Perspectives 86Shona Hunter14 Social Movements 92Louisa Parks15 Postmodernist Perspectives 98Enrico ReuterPart III Historical Context 10516 Nineteenth-century Beginnings 107Bernard Harris17 The Liberal Era and the Growth of State Welfare 113Lee Gregory18 The Modern Welfare State, 1940-1974 119Robert M. Page19 Crisis, Retrenchment and the Impact of Neoliberalism, 1976-1997 125Howard Glennerster20 Modernisation and the Third Way, 1997-2010 131Martin Powell21 Austerity Politics and Beyond 137Martin PowellPart IV Devolution and Social Policy in the United Kingdom 14322 Social Policy and Devolution 145Richard Parry23 Social Policy in Northern Ireland 152Ann Marie Gray and Derek Birrell24 Social Policy in Scotland 159Lynne Poole25 Social Policy in Wales 166Paul ChaneyPart V Contemporary Context and Challenges 17326 The Climate Change and Sustainability Challenge 175Adeline Otto27 The Demographic Challenge 182Jane Falkingham and Athina Vlachantoni28 The Economic Context 190Kevin Farnsworth and Zoë Irving29 The Role of Religion 197Rana Jawad30 Divisions and Difference 203Peter Matthews and Sharon Wright31 'Race', Minority Ethnic Groups and Social Welfare 209Steve Iafrati32 Poverty and Social Exclusion 216Simon Pemberton and Gerardo Javier Arriaga-García33 The Distribution of Welfare 222John HillsPart VI Welfare Production and Provision 22934 State Welfare 231Catherine Bochel35 Paying for Welfare 237Howard Glennerster36 Taxation and Social Policy 244Micheál L. Collins, Sally Ruane and Adrian Sinfield37 Commercial Welfare 252Chris Holden38 Occupational Welfare 258Margaret May39 Civil Society Organisations and Welfare 266Rob Macmillan40 Informal Welfare 272Stacey Rand41 Welfare Users and Social Policy 280Catherine NeedhamPart VII Welfare Governance 28742 The Policy Process 289Hugh Bochel43 Managing and Delivering Welfare 295Ian Greener44 Accountability for Welfare 301Jackie Gulland45 Local and Regional Governance 308Guy Daly and Howard DavisPart VIII Welfare Domains 31546 Income Maintenance and Social Security 317Stephen McKay and Karen Rowlingson47 Employment 324Adam Whitworth and Eleanor Carter48 Healthcare 331Catherine Marchand49 Public Health 338Tina Haux50 Education in Schools 345Elizabeth Cookingham Bailey51 Lifelong Learning and Training 352Claire Callender52 Housing 359David Mullins and Halima Sacranie53 Social Care 366Jon Glasby54 Criminal Justice 373Tim NewburnPart IX Experiencing Welfare 38155 Experiences of Working-age Benefits 383Ruth Patrick56 Family Policy 389Tina Haux57 Children 395Kitty Stewart58 Young People 401Aniela Wenham and Bob Coles59 Older People 408Kate Hamblin60 Disability 414Mark Priestley61 Migrants 420Rebecca E. MurrayPart X International and Comparative Context 42762 Comparative and International Analysis 429Margaret May63 Policy Learning and Transfer 436Laura Bainbridge and John Hudson64 The European Union and Social Policy 442Linda Hantrais65 Social Policy in Europe 449Daniel Clegg66 Social Policy in the United States 455Phillip M. Singer and Scott L. Greer67 Social Policy in East Asia 462Misa Izuhara and Wenjing Zhang68 Social Policy in the BRICS countries 469Rebecca Surender and Amrit Virk69 Social Policy in the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) 476Rana Jawad70 Social Policy in Low-income Countries 485Patricia Kennett and Angelique Retief71 Globalisation, International Organisations and Social Policy 494Nicola YeatesAppendix: The Social Policy Association (SPA) 501Index 503