Sumario: | This important and timely book makes a vital academic and political statement in the cause of social justice. It begins with an appreciation of the path-breaking contribution of Peter Townsend (1928-2009) to sociological methods and then considers his seminal work on a wide range of policy areas - poverty, social security and income inequality, health inequalities, disability, human rights, and international social policy -- and applies his insights to contemporary policy debates. The book challenges the present direction of social policy, in particular the pessimistic analysis of neoliberal policy commentators and governments about the need to cut collective welfare and to promote the primacy of the market and individual self-interest over the provision of security for all, especially the most vulnerable. It presents a powerfully reasoned and compelling manifesto for change for students and researchers in the social sciences, policy makers and practitioners, and everybody with an interest in creating a more equal and socially just society.
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