British Society and Social Welfare : Towards a Sustainable Society

This is an important introduction to a range of issues and questions studied throughout the social sciences. It examines the changes that have taken place in the areas of work, the family, the environment, crime and social division in Britain during the past twenty years. It explores the explanations for these changes and a range of policy responses to them, including the policies pursued by governments during the 1980s and 1990s, those advocated by conventional and radical approaches, and those proposed by the authors in the interests of creating a sustainable welfare society in Britain. British society is going through a period of rapid economic, social and cultural change. There is evidence of significant and far-ranging changes for the better as old hierarchies and divisions are challenged and eroded. But major new problems also threaten. Full employment is a thing of the past. The traditional family seems to be crumbling away. We are threatened by environmental disaster within a generation. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening. In spite of recent reductions in crime, the issue of law and order is seldom out of the news or far from our minds. This book gives a sharp, critical and highly readable appraisal of these five key aspects of modern Britain - what the situation actually is (based on a wealth of valuable empirical data), how and why it has been changing, and what the government response has been. It then explores and critically reviews a rich array of conventional and more radical policy proposals for tackling the problems. The first and last chapters provide the essential context, exploring whether and why Britain seems to have become a less stable society in the last 25 years and analysing the nature and basis of a genuinely sustainable society. The issues expertly explored in this book are of central importance to all of us. They are about the quality of life in contemporary Britain, the society we shall pass on to the next generation and the future sustainability of our society British Society Is Going Through A Period Of Rapid Economic, Social And Cultural Change. There Is Evidence Of Significant And Far-ranging Changes For The Better As Old Hierarchies And Divisions Are Challenged And Eroded. But Major New Problems Also Threaten. Full Employment Is A Thing Of The Past. The Traditional Family Seems To Be Crumbling Away. We Are Threatened By Environmental Disaster Within A Generation. The Gap Between The Rich And The Poor Is Widening. In Spite Of Recent Reductions In Crime, The Issue Of Law And Order Is Seldom Out Of The News Or Far From Our Minds.--jacket This Book Gives A Sharp, Critical And Highly Readable Appraisal Of These Five Key Aspects Of Modern Britain - What The Situation Actually Is (based On A Wealth Of Valuable Empirical Data), How And Why It Has Been Changing, And What The Government Response Has Been. It Then Explores And Critically Reviews A Rich Array Of Conventional And More Radical Policy Proposals For Tackling The Problems.--jacket 1. The Stability And Instability Of British Society -- 2. Work -- 3. The Family -- 4. The Environment -- 5. Social Divisions -- 6. Law And Order -- 7. A Sustainable Society. Vic George And Paul Wilding. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 223-236) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv The Stability and Instability of British Society....Pages 1-18 Work....Pages 19-55 The Family....Pages 56-94 The Environment....Pages 95-129 Social Divisions....Pages 130-165 Law and Order....Pages 166-200 A Sustainable Society....Pages 201-222 Back Matter....Pages 223-242 An introduction to a range of issues and questions studied throughout the social sciences. It examines the changes that have taken place in the areas of work, the family, the environment, crime and social division in Britain during the last 20 years of the 20th-century.