Traditional theories of the origins of the welfare state have emphasized the financial weakness of Britain’s largest provider of mutual insurance in the late 19th century, the friendly societies. These theories share common implications with contemporary theories of institutional change...

"This book draws upon thinking about the work of the dead in the context of deindustrialization-specifically, the decline of the textile industry in Kaduna, Nigeria-and its consequences for deceased workers' families. The author shows how that the dead work in various ways for Christians and...