At a time when welfare states in Europe are coming under increasing pressure from both growing demand and, in some countries, severe financial austerity measures, the attitudes of ordinary people and European social cohesion are much debated. Using data from the European Social Survey, these empirical analyses examine welfare state attitudes and draw conclusions for the future.

Theoretically the book is linked to analyses of altering social risks, policy challenges, policy changes and policy performance of the European welfare states. The analyses in the book explore a variety of individual and macro-level determinants of welfare policy attitudes ranging from socio-economic factors to religiosity, but a special emphasis is laid on solidarity, social cohesion and social capital among European nations.

This multi-disciplinary study will appeal to academics, researchers, graduate and postgraduate students in sociology, social policy, social administration and European studies.

Contributors: M. Ainsaar, S.N. Andersen, H. Chung, H. Ervasti, H. Finseraas, T. Fridberg, J. Goul Andersen, M. Hjerm, T. Kankainen, A. Kouvo, B. Meuleman, M. Niemelä, K. Ringdal, A. Schnabel, W. van Oorschot