The Routledge handbook of the welfare state. Greve, B.London: Routledge, 2019. ISBN 9780367659875; £27.99 (Pbk)

Abstract

The new edition of the Routledge Handbook of the Welfare State offers an exhaustive and informative account on comparative welfare states. Spanning a wide range of disciplines, the 45 contributions that compose the book constitute a useful source for any kind of reader, from welfare state ‘newcomers’ to more established researchers. Conventional topics such as social policy areas and welfare typologies are successfully complemented by more ambitious pieces, including on emergent welfare regimes in China and India, migration, ideational policy change, states of health, globalisation and well-being. This format allows readers to develop a basic understanding of the welfare state and get to know some of its most promising (and arguably least explored) avenues for research. The book is divided in four parts: ‘key concepts’, ‘typologies and methods’, ‘central policy areas’ and ‘future’. The first part surveys some of the main issues and questions animating the welfare state debate since its inception. It includes chapters on policy outputs (occupational welfare, fiscal welfare, benefits in kind and in cash) and outcomes (poverty, gender, well-being). The second part, which represents the core of the book, explores different welfare models and methodological aspects. The authors try to go beyond the traditional Eurocentrism and ‘methodological nationalism’ which still characterises the discipline. The third section examines 14 different policy areas, from long-term care to crime management. A final chapter wraps up the discussion and presents some of the foremost challenges and future scenarios. This handbook represents a valuable collection for every reader, especially those who want to get a first impression of such a vast field of study. However, one might find some room for improvement on three accounts. As a general point, the ‘politics’ side of the story seems underdeveloped. Several chapters take a technical and economistic stance, leaving factors such as power relations and historical dynamics mostly out of the picture. Contributions in the third part (‘central policy areas’) appear likewise dry and descriptive, missing the opportunity to speculate on potential drivers and causal mechanisms. In various parts of the book, the welfare state is primarily defined as a remedy to ‘market failures’, since without public intervention ‘certain goods and services will not be provided’ (p. 528). However, it could be argued that (at least in some countries) welfare states represent much more than that, laying their base in struggles for social citizenship rights. Likewise, less attention is devoted to actors and philosophical foundations. A second reservation is that the ‘typologies and methods’ section (including 19 chapters) seems too broad and lacking internal coherence. More substantive chapters on regional clusters are combined with methodological discussions that revolve around the seminal typology of Esping-Andersen, listing its strengths and weaknesses; a debate that might have already reached the point of exhaustion. Regional chapters are heterogeneous in their nature, with different structures and content organisation. While some of them cover policy aspects more in depth, others focus on methodological contentions, for instance debating whether a certain regime exists or not. Furthermore, there is a noticeable overlap between some chapters, as in the case of North America and Liberal regimes, or the two pieces on ideal-types authored by the same person. Thirdly, whereas the Handbook has been substantially expanded, a number of potential areas remain unaddressed. For instance, social investment is mentioned as an emerging paradigm or approach; however, no specific piece is dedicated to the topic. Similarly, the chapters on EU social policy and globalisation could be fruitfully complemented by a discussion on the role of international organisations, most notably the ILO social protection framework. The third section lacks a separate chapter trying to explore traditional income ‘buffers’ (such as short-time work schemes), as well as more radical policy proposals, including a Universal Basic Income. Moreover, a distinct chapter on eco-social policies, looking at the nexus between welfare states and environmental degradation, could be well appreciated. Overall, the 2019 edition of the Routledge Handbook of the Welfare State is a much welcome new item in the toolkit of every social policy researcher. Greve's collection is encompassing, accessible and multi-disciplinary. We look forward to a new edition that accounts for the Covid-19 crisis and its repercussions for welfare states around the globe. Open Access Funding provided by European University Institute within the CRUI-CARE Agreement. [Correction added on 18 May 2022 after first online: CRUI-CARE funding statement has been added.]