This book examins the ambivalent historical relationship of the labour movement and the state in matters of social security and social policy. On the basis of h... » 

This book examins the ambivalent historical relationship of the labour movement and the state in matters of social security and social policy. On the basis of historical research in Britain and the Netherlands two basic premises about the development of European welfare states are being challenged they developed slowly during the twentieth century and mostly so in countries where the social democratic left has a been powerful political force. While is cannot be denied that their decisive development only started in the last two decades of the nineteenth century it is argued that welfare states built upon older traditions of self help and social policy. Fro its start the labour movement especially the trade unions aimed at the protection of workers against the risks of life and labour in industrial society. But if the labour movement tried to mitigate these risks it was not generally inclined to look at the state as the guardian angel in social secturity. This book examins the ambivalent historical relationship of the labour movement and the state in matters of social security and social policy. On the basis of historical research in Britain and the Netherlands two basic premises about the development of European welfare states are being challenged they developed slowly during the twentieth century and mostly so in countries where the social democratic left has a been powerful political force. While is cannot be denied that their decisive development only started in the last two decades of the nineteenth century it is argued that welfare states built upon older traditions of self help and social policy. Fro its start the labour movement especially the trade unions aimed at the protection of workers against the risks of life and labour in industrial society. But if the labour movement tried to mitigate these risks it was not generally inclined to look at the state as the guardian angel in social secturity. «