New Managerialism, New Welfare?

New Managerialism, New Welfare is a carefully integrated textbook that explores the continuing restructuring of the state and social welfare in the UK.

The promise to `modernize' the state has been central to New Labour's approach to social policy, and has raised issues about the reform of public services and the role of the state in promoting and providing social welfare. To what extent is Labour carrying out the programme of reform inherited from the New Right? To what extent does the commitment to partnership, public participation and the pursuit of continuous improvement in standards mark a distinctively new - and New Labour - approach to public services? This book is designed to explore these issues.

The book combines studies of specific policy areas - such as health, education, criminal justice, local government - with chapters that examine cross-cutting themes and developments, such as modernization and the role of audit and inspection agencies. New Managerialism, New Welfare provides a thorough and critical reflection on New Labour's vision of the past and future of social welfare and public services in the construction of a `modern society'.