Understanding Comparative Social Policy in Global Context

Part 1: Welfare states in a globalizing world: Social policy as a national and international phenomenon: the need for comparison; How can social policies be compared?: evidence and concepts; Making sense of comparison: theories and models of analysis; Globalization: what is it about and why does it matter?; International organisations and social policy; Part 2: Comparing welfare states: patterns of similarity and difference: From global themes to national welfare systems; European welfare states; The USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia; Asian welfare states; Reviewing the patterns, explaining the trends.