Europe's social model its system of welfare and social protection is regarded by many as the jewel in the crown. It is what helps to give the European societies their distinctive qualities of social cohesion and care for the vulnerable. Over recent years, however, the social model has come under great strain in many states within the European Union unemployment, for example, remains stubbornly high. The resulting tensions have fuelled dissatisfaction with the European project as a whole, culminating in the rejection of Europe's proposed new constitution. Reform of the social model is therefore a matter of urgency. It has to go hand in hand with the quest to regenerate economic growth. The weaker performers in Europe over the past few years can learn a good deal from states that have coped more effectively. But more radical changes need to be contemplated in the face of the impact of globalization, rapidly increasing cultural diversity and changing demography. The author argues that the traditional welfare state needs to be rethought. We have to bring lifestyle change into the heart of what welfare means. Moreover, environmental issues must be directly connected to other citizenship obligations. These innovations have to be made at the same time as Europes competitive position is upgraded. This original and path-breaking book will rank alongside Beyond Left and Right, The Third Way and other works by Anthony Giddens that have helped reshape social and political thinking over recent decades.

Europe's social model - its system of welfare and socialprotection - is regarded by many as the jewel in the crown.It is what helps to give the European societies their distinctivequalities of social cohesion and care for the vulnerable. Overrecent years, however, the social model has come under great strainin many states within the European Union - unemployment, forexample, remains stubbornly high. The resulting tensions havefuelled dissatisfaction with the European project as a wholeculminating in the rejection of Europe's proposed newconstitution.Reform of the social model is therefore a matter of urgency. Ithas to go hand in hand with the quest to regenerate economicgrowth. The weaker performers in Europe over the past few years canlearn a good deal from states that have coped more effectively. Butmore radical changes need to be contemplated in the face of theimpact of globalization, rapidly increasing cultural diversity andchanging demography. The author argues that the traditional welfarestate needs to be rethought. We have to bring lifestyle change intothe heart of what welfare means. Moreover, environmental issuesmust be directly connected to other citizenship obligations. Theseinnovations have to be made at the same time as Europes competitiveposition is upgraded.This original and path-breaking book will rank alongsideBeyond Left and Right, The Third Way and other worksby Anthony Giddens that have helped reshape social and politicalthinking over recent decades.

Preface viiGlossary of Terms xi1 The Social Model 12 Change and Innovation in Europe 303 Social Justice and Social Divisions 594 From Negative to Positive Welfare 965 Lifestyle Change 1356 At the Level of the EU 1647 Eight Theses on the Future of Europe 199Appendix: Open Letter on the Future of Europe 231Index 235