Social policy scholars and practitioners have long worked with concepts such as
?welfare state" and ?social security"?but where do these concepts come from and
how has their meaning changed over time? What characterizes social policy
language in different places, and how do some social concepts travel between
them? Addressing such questions in a systematic manner, the contributors to this
collection analyze the concepts and language used to make sense of contemporary
social policy. Combining detailed chapters on particular countries with broader
comparative chapters, the book offers a variety of perspectives on just what we
mean when we use these terms.