Richard Titmuss was Professor of Social Administration at the London School of Economics from 1950 until his death in 1973. His publications on welfare and social policy were radical and wide-ranging, spanning fields such as demography, class inequalities in health, social work, and altruism. Titmuss's work played a critical role in establishing the study of social policy as a scientific discipline; it helped to shape the development of the British Welfare State and influenced thinking about social policy worldwide.
Despite its continuing relevance to current social policy issues both in the UK and internationally, much of Titmuss's work is now out of print. This book brings together a selection of his most important writings on a range of key social policy issues, together with commentary on these from contemporary experts in the field.
The book should be read by undergraduate and postgraduate students in social policy and sociology, for many of whom Titmuss remains compulsory reading. It will be of interest to academics and other policy analysts as well as students and academics in political science and social work.
Contents: Introduction ~ Pete Alcock and Ann Oakley; Part One: The family, poverty and population: Commentary by ~ Ann Oakley; The nation's wealth; The summation of poverty; A measurement of human progress; The position of women; Part Two: The 'welfare state': Commentary by ~ Tania Burchardt; The welfare state: images and realities; The social division of welfare: some reflections on the search for equity; War and social policy; Unfinished business; Part Three: Redistribution, universality and inequality: Commentary by ~ John Hills; The role of redistribution in social policy; Welfare state and welfare society; Social welfare and the art of giving; Part Four: Power, policy and privilege: Commentary by ~ Adrian Sinfield; The irresponsible society; The need for a new approach; Part Five: International and comparative dimensions: Commentary by ~ Howard Glennerster; The international perspective; Developing social policy in conditions of rapid change: the role of social welfare; Part Six: The subject of social policy: Commentary by ~ Pete Alcock; The subject of social administration; What is social policy?; Values and choices.
