Imagining Welfare Futures explores possible futures of welfare by considering different types of relationship between the public and the state through which social welfare may be organized beyond the millennium. By drawing on contemporary debates about the 'citizen', 'the community' and 'the consumer', the book explores what each of these imaginary figures might mean for the next generation of welfare users.

Introduction John Clarke, Gordon Hughes, Gail Lewis and Gerry Mooney, all at The Open University 1. Consumerism John Clarke 2. Community Gordon Hughes and Gerry Mooney 3. Citizenship Gail Lewis 4. Reinventing 'the public'? Gordon Hughes, John Clarke, Gail Lewis and Gerry Mooney