Clear Blue Water? The Conservative Party & the Welfare State
Regular price £40.00NEW hardback by Robert M Page
Has the modern Conservative party developed a distinctive approach to the post-war welfare state? In exploring this question, this accessible book, written for a broad readership takes an authoritative look at Conservative party policy and practice in the modern era. The book takes as its main starting point the progressive One Nation Conservative (1950-64) perspective, which endeavoured to embrace those features of the welfare state deemed compatible with the party's underlying 'philosophy.' Attention then shifts to the neo-liberal Conservatives (1974-1997), who sought to reverse the forward march of the welfare state on the grounds of its 'harmful' economic and social effects. Finally, David Cameron's (2005-present day) 'progressive' neo-liberal Conservative welfare state strategy is put under the spotlight. The book's time-defined content and broad historical thread make it a valuable resource for academics and students in social policy and politics as well as social history.