New Managerialism, New Welfare is a carefully integrated textbook that explores the continuing restructuring of the state and social welfare in the United Kingdom. It combines studies of specific policy areas - such as health, education, criminal justice, local government - with chapters that examine cross-cutting themes and developments. The book provides a thorough and critical reflection on New Labour's vision of the past and future of social welfare and public services in the construction of a `modern society'.

This book gives a comprehensive picture of social work in its new guise as a quasi-public enterprise, and is an invaluable resource for social work and social policy students, practice teachers, trainers and managers.

Current policy encourages 'partnerships' - between statutory organisations and professionals; public and private sectors; with voluntary organisations and local communities. But is this collaborative discourse really as distinctive as the Labour Government claims? How far do contemporary partnerships exemplify an approach to governing which is based on networks (as distinct from hierarchies and markets)? Partnerships, New Labour and the governance of welfare:provides an up-to-date critical analysis of partnerships;addresses the highly topical theme of 'partnerships' as the means of achieving joined-up government;presents empirical evidence from a wide range of welfare partnerships;examines the relationships between local welfare partnerships and the management of those partnerships by central government;reveals the imbalance of power which characterises many contemporary partnerships.·[vbTab]·[vbTab]It is essential reading for academics and students of contemporary social and public policy and for those with an interest in networks and other theories of welfare governance.

Analyses the remaking of the relationships between welfare, state and nation.

Using both theoretical contributions as well as applied case studies, this volume presents a critical analysis of the changes and challenges currently affecting European universities. The contributors argue that European universities need to change, but that such change will not be homogenous.

Butcher provides an up-to-date survey of the role of central government, local authorities, the NHS and other agencies responsible for delivering the social services, and the directions that welfare delivery has taken since the early 1980s.

Praise for the First Edition: `A clear and concise introduction to comparative social policy. It provides students with a framework in which to analyze the British welfare regime and to compare it with those developed and developing elsewhere' - Hilary Graham, Professor of Applied Social Studies, University of Warwick This extensively revised Second Edition, provides a critical introduction to British and comparative social policy. Drawing on the comparative analysis of welfare regimes, the book show how the welfare systems of individual countries can only be understood thorugh exploring the wider global context. The chapters highlight the richness, complexity and dynamics of welfare regimes in different countries, while ar the same time considering shared features and trends. Comparing Welfare States provides a unique way into analysis of the British welfare state through its wider international focus. In this extensively revised second edition, the British case is related to the experiences of the United States of America, Sweden, Germany and Ireland, and set in the context of policy issues within the European Union. Througout the authors problematize traditional notions of welfare, emphasizing variations in levels and forms of provision and in the ways in which different social groups experience welfare. Particular attention is paid to the interactions between family policies and issues of race and gender, and to the processes by which indivduals or groups are given or denied access to full welfare citizenship. This book is an invaluable text for students of British and comparative social and public policy, and to all of those interested in the study of European welfare states. Comparing Welfare States is a course book for the Open University course, Family Life and Social Policy (D311).

"This book brings a new perspective to the study of social policy and is designed for students of social policy, social work, politics, policy studies and public adminstration."--BOOK JACKET.

Annotation.

There are an increasing number of studies devoted to an examination of New Labour's social policies. However, thus far there has been little in the way of substantive discussion of opposition to and conflict around key elements of New Labour's agenda for the welfare state and public sector, from those who are involved in the frontline implementation and delivery of welfare policies. Since the mid to late 1990s, there have been continual and recurring episodes of industrial action of various kinds involving social workers, teachers, lecturers, nurses, hospital ancillary staff, nursery nurses, home helps and local authority librarians among others. Welfare delivery has become a central point of industrial relations disputes in the UK today. This book provides the first critically informed discussion of work and workers in the UK welfare sector under New Labour. It examines the changing nature of work and explores the context of industrial relations across the welfare industry. While the main focus is on the workforce in state welfare, this is set within the context of recent and current shifts in the mixed economy of welfare between state, private and third sector organisations.