One of the most contested issues of the 20th century is that of welfare - how it should be available, to whom, on what terms and by what means. The debate on welfare has taken place across the developed world, and has spread to developing nations: it encompasses a wide range of ideological positions and consumes a large proportion of the resources of states that provide it. This collection explores the ramifications of welfare and the state over the course of the 20th century, drawing material from a range of disciplines and with a geographical coverage across all the major developed countries.