Abstract

‘The state’ is, in many respects, a fundamental feature of contemporary society, affecting the daily lives of people across the world. Yet, at the same time, it is hard to define, and is also widely seen as facing a variety of challenges to its nature and indeed its existence. This chapter considers some of the ways in which the modern state has been characterized and assessed. It then outlines a number of theoretical perspectives that have been influential in understanding the functions of the state. Given that the role of the state in social policy has been of considerable importance, the chapter then explores the idea of the ‘welfare state’, and the challenges and opportunities facing it. The chapter suggests that while the state and the welfare state are undergoing a process of change, they nevertheless remain significant.