Written in clear, lively prose by one of the foremost scholars of social welfare, Dr. Jansson's highly respected text analyzes the evolution of the American welfare state from colonial times to the present. This sixth edition of THE RELUCTANT WELFARE STATE: ENGAGING HISTORY TO ADVANCE SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY places social policy in its political, cultural, and societal context. Using social policy history as a catalyst, Jansson invites students to think critically about issues, developments, and policies in prior eras and in contemporary society, and he inspires them to develop their own "policy identity."