Exploring social policy in the 'new' Scotland is the first book to integrate the description and analysis of social policy in Scotland since devolution in 1999. It has been designed to support the delivery of social policy and related courses in Scotland itself but also to appeal to students on social policy, politics, sociology, public policy and regional studies courses across the United Kingdom, on which devolution and its impact are examined. The contributors are all highly experienced researchers and academics from across the social sciences. The book therefore presents a variety of perspectives and approaches with which to consider the key issues. Up-to-date material on a wide range of social policy topics, including work and welfare, health and social work, criminal justice, education, and urban policy, means that the book will be valuable to academics, researchers, policy makers and practitioners, as well as students.

This text integrates the description & analysis of social policy in Scotland since devolution in 1999. It has been designed to support the delivery of social policy & related courses in Scotland itself but also to appeal to students on social policy, politics, sociology, and regional studies courses.

Social justice and social policy in Scotland offers a critical engagement with the state of social policy in one of the devolved nations of the UK, a decade after the introduction of devolution. Promoting greater social justice has been held up as a key vision of successive Scottish administrations since devolution began. It is argued throughout this important book that the analysis of Scottish social policy must therefore be located in wider debates around social injustice as well as about how the devolution process affects the making, implementation and impact of social policy. Social justice and social policy in Scotland focuses on a diverse range of topics and issues, including income inequalities, work and welfare, criminal justice, housing, education, health and poverty, each reflecting the themes of social inequality and social justice. This book will be essential reading for academics, researchers, policy makers and practitioners as well as students of social policy and of society in Scotland and other devolved nations.

Written by a leading sociologist of Scotland, this ground-breaking new introduction is a comprehensive account of the social, political, economic and cultural processes at work in contemporary Scottish society. At a time of major uncertainty and transformation The New Sociology of Scotland explores every aspect of Scottish life. Placed firmly in the context of globalisation, the text: examines a broad range of topics including race and ethnicity, social inequality, national identity, health, class, education, sport, media and culture, among many others. looks at the ramifications of recent political events such as British General Election of 2015, the Scottish parliament election of May 2016, and the Brexit referendum of June 2016. uses learning features such as further reading and discussion questions to stimulate students to engage critically with issues raised. Written in a lucid and accessible style, The New Sociology of Scotland is an indispensable guide for students of sociology and politics.

In a world where the effects of inequality occupy an increasingly prominent place on the public agenda, this book provides up-to-date and thorough analysis from the perspective of a group of researchers at the forefront of social stratification analysis. Exploring Social Inequality in the 21st Century is a clear and critical overview of current debates about social inequality. It includes new information, tools, and approaches to conceptualising and measuring social stratification and social class, as well as informative case studies. Throughout, the researchers describe the direct and indirect costs of social inequality. Divided into two parts – Conceptualising and Measuring Inequality; and Costs and Consequences of Inequality in the areas of Education, Employment, and Global Wealth – it includes new findings about the growth of wealth inequality in the G20 countries, and a detailed examination of tax policies designed to reduce inequality without affecting economic growth. With substantial contributions to the analysis of inequalities in education, and explanations of the processes and consequences of social and gender-based exclusion, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding contemporary social inequality. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Contemporary Social Science.

This edited collection provides the first in-depth analysis of social policies and the risks faced by young people. The book explores the effects of both the economic crisis and austerity policies on the lives of young Europeans, examining both the precarity of youth transitions, and the function of welfare state policies.

"Social justice is a highly contested term, with all political parties now claiming it for their own. Some clarity about the value base of social justice and what it means in practice is therefore essential to make sense of these claims. This book does that most effectively for a range of key forms of welfare provision. In a very readable way, and with substantial illustrative material, it takes the reader from engagement with key theories and concepts of social justice into the world of social welfare and crime control politics, policy and practice, showing what a socially just world might look like. The authors are to be congratulated on an impressive collection of writing." Gary Craig, Professor of Social Justice, University of Hull, UK This book explores ways of defining and enacting social justice in the context of modern social welfare and crime control policies. It examines how the notion of social justice informs experiences and understandings of the social world, why it appeals to so many people as a mobilising ideal for social change and reform, and how it shapes the claims, demands and actions that people take in the pursuit of the 'good society'. The authors employ an interdisciplinary approach to explore the interrelationship between social policy and criminology. With international content and a sustained focus across the book on different kinds of evidence, it helps readers to gauge the role of evidence in social science and policy development. Designed as an interactive teaching text, the book includes a range of student-friendly learning features, such as case studies, activities and questions for discussion, making it ideal for both classroom-based and distance learners. Social Justice is a key text for students in criminology, social policy and social justice.