Throughout the world, politicians from all the main parties are cutting back on state welfare provision, encouraging people to use the private sector instead and developing increasingly stringent techniques for the surveillance of the poor. Almost all experts agree that we are likely to see further constraints on state welfare in the 21st Century.
Gathering together the findings from up-to-date attitude surveys in Europe East and West, the US and Australasia, this revealing book shows that, contrary to the claims of many experts and policy-makers, the welfare state is still highly popular with the citizens of most countries. This evidence will add to controversy in an area of fundamental importance to public policy and to current social science debate.

Stefan Svallfors is lecturer of sociology, Umeå University, Sweden.
Peter Taylor-Gooby is professor of social policy at the University of Kent.

Chapter 1 'Hollowing Out' Versus the New Interventionism, Peter Taylor-Gooby; Chapter 2 Changing Labour Markets, New Social Divisions and Welfare State Support, Jørgen Goul Andersen; Chapter 3 The Middle Class and Welfare State Retrenchment, Stefan Svallfors; Chapter 4 Who Wants to Preserve the 'Scandinavian Service State'?, Helena Blomberg, ChristianKroll; Chapter 5 Welfare State Opinions Among Citizens, MP-Candidates and Elites, Pauli Forma; Chapter 6 Progressive Taxation Farewell?, Jonas Edlund; Chapter 7 Within and Without, George Matheson, MichaelWearing; Chapter 8 Need, Citizenship or Merit, Pauli Forma, OlliKangas; Chapter 9 Egalitarianism, Perception of Conflicts and Support for Transformation in Poland, Krzysztof Zagórski; Chapter 10 And What if the State Fades Away?, Zsuzsa Ferge;