Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was a major figure in the early development of sociology, famous for work which likened society to an organism and analyzed it in evolutionary terms. In this context he was contributing to evolutionary theory before as well as after Darwin and argued consistently that society would be perfected through the operation of the principle that every man should be left free to do what he would as long as he did not interfere with another man's freedom. Spencer's work has been neglected in recent years, but its indirect influence lives on both in libertarian political thought and in the discipline of sociology itself particularly through the work of Durkheim who was heavily influenced by Spencer. This set traces that influence from the reaction of Spencer's contemporaries to the present day. Contributions come from across the social science disciplines and are often taken from difficult to access contemporary sources.

Originally published in 1971 and now reissued with a new Preface by John Offer this book examines the historical origins, (both institutional and academic) of social policy and administration and the theoretical contribution of such key figures in the development of the social sciences as Marx, Spencer, Weber and Durkheim. It then analyses the application of normative theory in this field; examines the concepts of exchange and stigma in social welfare; and looks at the idea of citizenship and the use of the social services. In a final section the author presents a number of models of social welfare.

Robert Pinker has written extensively on social policy matters since the early 1960s. His distinct approach to understanding concepts such as welfare pluralism is of particular relevance today as welfare pluralism remains an essential component of the policy mix, giving people access to a greater range and diversity of statutory, voluntary, and private sector services than unitary models of welfare provide. Social Policy and Welfare Pluralism presents the first collection of Robert Pinker's essays in one edited volume. It includes essays on the ways in which welfare theories and ideologies and public expectations have influenced and shaped the political processes of policy making. Other essays focus on clarifying some of the key concepts that underpin the study of social policy. Pinker also reviews the extent to which the United Kingdom has succeeded in creating a 'policy mix' in which normative compromises are negotiated between the claims of market individualism and public sector collectivism. The concluding chapter by Robert Pinker reviews the prospects for social policy in the UK over the next five years.

The history of social policy is emerging as an area of growing interest to both students and researchers. This topical book charts the period from the 1830s to the present day, providing a fresh analysis of the relationship between social theory and social policy in the UK. Different ideas about the means and aims of social policy suggested by Individualists, Idealists, and Fabian Socialists are examined in depth and their impacts on the world of social policy reassessed. Special consideration is given to the history of ideas in relation to informal care and voluntary action, as well as action by the state. An Intellectual History of British Social Policy provides a valuable framework that exposes many of the assumptions about the nature of welfare and its future direction while reconsidering and challenging many long-held beliefs about the evolution of social policy.

This book presents Spencer's classic attempt to expose the flaws in socialism and to assert political individualism as the best way to guarantee social progress. It will be of interest to both undergraduates and specialists in politics, political theory, social policy, sociology and history.

Social workers are called upon to perform their varied tasks in a wide range of social settings, often involving intensely intimate contact with, and intervention in, a person's private moral and social world. Offering insights into the lives and motives of social work service users, Social Workers, The Community and Social Interaction demonstrates the practical relevance of recent sociological research for good social work practice. The book examines such topics as: * how social work is taught, managed and delivered * the interaction between clients and social workers * the nature of social life in institutions * how stigmatisation shapes social interaction * 'deviancy' and its policing * informal care and how social work can relate to it * everyday ideas and beliefs about poverty, inequality and illness. The author argues that sociology is an undervalued resource for social work training and education, and, emphasising the importance of competences in social work, shows how a greater awareness of sociological issues can help improve services for clients.