Download or read book Exploring European Social Policy written by Robert R. Geyer and published by Polity. This book was released on 2000-06-22 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the growing challenges of economic globalization and nationalwelfare state retrenchment, the development and future of EU socialpolicy has become increasingly important. This exciting newtextbook provides a comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date overviewof this contested area and examines whether EU social policy isstrengthening or weakening European social policy regimes. The book begins with a general outline of the postwar developmentof EU social policy and its evolving relationship to the theory andpractice of European integration. Then it provides a detailed andtheoretically engaged description of the main areas of EU socialpolicy including: labour, gender, anti-poverty,anti-discrimination, elderly, disability, youth, and public healthpolicy. There is also a chapter exploring the social policy role ofthe structural funds, particularly the European Social Fund. Thebook concludes by arguing against both sides of thestrengthening/weakening debate, calling for a more subtle analysisof the effects of EU social policy on national social policyregimes. This book is the most up-to-date and comprehensive available andoffers the reader a detailed and accessible exploration of thearea. It will be essential reading for anyone studying the EU ornational social policy, as well as for practitioners in the field.