This book examines the validity of a social guarantees approach as a framework for evaluating, monitoring, and improving the design of social policy. Social guarantees are defined as sets of policy mechanisms that determine citizens' entitlements related to basic services and ensure their fulfillment on the part of the state. The social guarantee concept gives operational expression to fundamental human rights principles by providing mechanisms for awareness, participation, equity, and redress in the delivery of social policy. In addition, the social guarantees approach responds to an emerging global need for a comprehensive social policy model - a new social contract between the state and its citizens - that can face up to the challenges of inclusive and sustainable globalization. The book includes analytical case studies from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, South Africa, and the Caribbean region.