The economic crisis has given rise to significant challenges to the welfare state. Given that welfare expenses account for a large proportion of all state spending in the member countries of the European Union, reducing government spending means cutting welfare measures. Yet social protection,...

Introduction: towards a political economy of social policy -- The historical origins of welfare systems, 1945-80 -- Social policy in Latin America, East Asia and Eastern Europe, 1945-1980: an overview -- The expansion of welfare commitments in Latin America, 1945-80 -- The evolution of social...