Underclass by John Welshman
Who are those at the bottom of society? There has been much discussion in recent years, on both Left and Right, about the existence of an alleged 'underclass' in both Britain and the USA. It has been claimed this group lives outside the mainstream of society, is characterised by crime, suffers from long-term unemployment and single parenthood, and is alienated from its core values. John Welshman shows that there have always been concerns about an 'underclass', whether constructed as the 'social residuum' of the 1880s, the 'problem family' of the 1950s or the 'cycle of deprivation' of the 1970s. There are marked differences between these concepts, but also striking continuities. Indeed a concern with an 'underclass' has in many ways existed as long as an interest in poverty itself. This book is the first to look systematically at the question, providing new insights into contemporary debates about behaviour, poverty and welfare reform. This new edition of the pioneering text has been updated throughout and includes brand new chapters on 'Problem Families' and New Labour as well as 'Troubled Families' and the Coalition Government. It is a seminal work for anyone interested in the social history of Britain and the Welfare State.
This book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of a tantalizing, controversial and long-enduring perspective on povertyAs such, it will be a welcome addition to the existing literature, filling a large gap. -- John Macnicol, Visiting Professor, LSE * Urban History *
Welshman’s eye for detail, his ability to write concisely and his thorough mastery of the subject discussed, ensures that each individual chapter also serves as a comprehensive standalone account of the particular underclass (re)construction of the day … It thus leaves one feeling intellectually sated and irrationally hungry for more of the same. * Housing Studies *
Welshman’s eye for detail, his ability to write concisely and his thorough mastery of the subject discussed, ensures that each individual chapter also serves as a comprehensive standalone account of the particular underclass (re)construction of the day … It thus leaves one feeling intellectually sated and irrationally hungry for more of the same. * Housing Studies *
John Welshman is Senior Lecturer in History at Lancaster University, UK.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781780935706 |
| ISBN 10 | 1780935706 |
| Title | Underclass |
| Author | John Welshman |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
| Year published | 2013-10-10 |
| Number of pages | 312 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |