The repoliticization of the welfare state / [by] Ian P. McManus.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McManus, Ian P. (Ian Patrick)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009--Political aspects--Europe.

Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009.

Welfare state--European Union countries--History--21st century.

Welfare state.

Recessions--Europe--History--21st century.

Recessions.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (235 pages)

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor, Michigan : University of Michigan Press, 2022.

Summary:

The Repoliticization of the Welfare State grapples with the evolving nature of political conflict over social spending after the Great Recession. While the severity of the economic crisis encouraged strong social spending responses to protect millions of individuals, governments have faced growing pressure to reduce budgets and make deep cuts to the welfare state. Whereas conservative parties have embraced fiscal discipline and welfare state cuts, left-wing parties have turned away from austerity in favor of higher social spending. These political differences represent a return of traditional left-right beliefs over social spending and economic governance.

This book is one of the first to systematically compare welfare state politics before and after the Great Recession arguing that a new and lasting post-crisis dynamic has emerged where political parties once again matter for social spending. At the heart of this repoliticization are intense ideological debates over market regulation, social inequality, redistribution, and the role of the state. The book analyzes social spending dynamics for 28 countries before and after the crisis. It also includes in-depth country case studies representing five distinct welfare state types: Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, and the Czech Republic.

Contents:

1. The Realignment of Welfare State Politics

2. Crisis and the Politics of Social Spending

3. The European Union

4. Germany: Continental European Welfare State

5. United Kingdom: Liberal Welfare State

6. Sweden: Nordic Welfare State

7. Spain: Southern European Welfare State

8. -Czech Republic: Eastern European Welfare State

9. Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-219) and index.

CC BY-NC-ND

Description based on information from the publisher.

ISBN:

9780472902866

0472902865

OCLC:

1293754048