Maurice Milliard is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Hull., Paul Spicker is Senior Lecturer in Political Science and Social Policy at the University of Dundee.

• Chapter 1 Introduction; Part 1 Old paradigms: how we used to think of society; Chapter 2 Keynesian economics; Chapter 3 Marxism; Chapter 4 Liberal individualism; Chapter 5 Conservatism and the New Right; Chapter 6 Social democracy and socialism; Part 2 New paradigms: interpretations of a changingsociety; Chapter 7 Communities and society; Chapter 8 New views of the economy; Chapter 9 The global economy; Chapter 10 A new kind of society; Chapter 11 Explaining social divisions; Part 3 New challenges to social policy; Chapter 12 Society; Chapter 13 The economy; Chapter 14 The political framework; Chapter 15 Social welfare and social justice;