Charles Noble is Professor of Political Science at California State University at Long Beach. He is the author of Liberalism at Work: The Rise and Fall of OSHA, (1989).
"This most worthy addition to the welfare literature explains why
the US has had such a narrow and controversial welfare
state....This clearly written. accessible book will see wide use
both in courses on policy making and political institutions and in
courses on welfare policy."--Choice
"This is one of the first, and will likely remain one of the best,
efforts to come to terms with the demise of "welfare as we knew it"
in the United States....This book will give its readers no comfort.
But it should enable them to see much more clearly how the
structure of the American state and economy sets the limits and
opportunities for aid to the poor and decency across all levels of
American society."--Jennifer Hochschild, Princeton University
"A sober but brilliant interpretation of American welfare state
politics. In an uncommonly balanced analysis, Noble shows the roots
of recent developments in fundamental features of American
political history, and in the institutional arrangements that
history has bequeathed to us. A major contribution."--Frances Fox
Piven, City University of New York
"A terrific piece of work. Exceptionally well-written and drawing
upon an enormous range of literature, Noble's book brilliantly
clarifies the current debate over welfare and the extent and form
of the welfare state in America. Looking at topics such as race,
labor unions, the politics of business, the impact of welfare
programs, the implications of federalism and divided government,
and more, Noble demonstrates that the American welfare state is not
a failed,
or flawed, or incomplete welfare state compared to others in the
world, but one built upon an entirely different logic, grounded in
American institutional, economic, and social structural
arrangements."--Edward S. Greenberg, University of Colorado,
Boulder
"An immensely knowledgeable book, rich in historical and
theoretical insights, and written with exceptional clarity and
verve. Its use of social scientific and historical analysis to
locate the American welfare state in comparative context makes the
book the rarest of finds--an original scholarly work, high on
method and readability, and ideal for the classroom. It is a
remarkably timely and significant contribution that helps us come
to terms with what we lost
and conceive sensible and well-informed alternatives."--Joel
Krieger, Wellesley College
"This most worthy addition to the welfare literature explains why
the US has had such a narrow and controversial welfare
state....This clearly written. accessible book will see wide use
both in courses on policy making and political institutions and in
courses on welfare policy."--Choice
"This is one of the first, and will likely remain one of the best,
efforts to come to terms with the demise of "welfare as we knew it"
in the United States....This book will give its readers no comfort.
But it should enable them to see much more clearly how the
structure of the American state and economy sets the limits and
opportunities for aid to the poor and decency across all levels of
American society."--Jennifer Hochschild, Princeton University
"A sober but brilliant interpretation of American welfare state
politics. In an uncommonly balanced analysis, Noble shows the roots
of recent developments in fundamental features of American
political history, and in the institutional arrangements that
history has bequeathed to us. A major contribution."--Frances Fox
Piven, City University of New York
"A terrific piece of work. Exceptionally well-written and drawing
upon an enormous range of literature, Noble's book brilliantly
clarifies the current debate over welfare and the extent and form
of the welfare state in America. Looking at topics such as race,
labor unions, the politics of business, the impact of welfare
programs, the implications of federalism and divided government,
and more, Noble demonstrates that the American welfare state is not
a failed,
or flawed, or incomplete welfare state compared to others in the
world, but one built upon an entirely different logic, grounded in
American institutional, economic, and social structural
arrangements."--Edward S. Greenberg, University of Colorado,
Boulder
"An immensely knowledgeable book, rich in historical and
theoretical insights, and written with exceptional clarity and
verve. Its use of social scientific and historical analysis to
locate the American welfare state in comparative context makes the
book the rarest of finds--an original scholarly work, high on
method and readability, and ideal for the classroom. It is a
remarkably timely and significant contribution that helps us come
to terms with what we lost
and conceive sensible and well-informed alternatives."--Joel
Krieger, Wellesley College
"Comprehensive and compelling...Drawing on a large comparative
literature and a wealth of historical material, Noble argues that
the relatively stark underdevelopment of the American welfare state
stems in large part from our basic political institutions. Against
a backdrop of racial and ethnic divisions, turn-of-the-century
progressives, New Deal reformers, trade unions, and poor people's
advocates were all significantly constrained in building
winning
coalitions, pursuing radical political strategies, and, ultimately,
constructing an ample network of public social protection by
America's decentralized policy-making institutions, fragmented
party system,
and inhospitable electoral laws....Must reading for students and
scholars of social welfare policy."--Duane Swank, Marquette
University
"The book we have been waiting for--an accessible and superbly
proportioned analysis of the political, economic, and social
factors that have both propelled and constrained the development of
the American welfare state."--Joel Blau, Dept. of Social Work, SUNY
Stony Brook
"For activists or city planners interested in the rights and needs
of the poor and disenfranchised, such a close examination of the
pattern of political choice is illuminating."--APA Journal
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