In the 28 years since the first publication of this book it has become the standard text on the course of social policy and social ideas in Britain since the Industrial Revolution. Derek Fraser has again fully updated and revised each chapter in the light of research and has added a whole new chapter on the first half century of the Welfare State, taking the story up to the Blair government. The book contains useful appendices of contemporary documents and an updated bibliography of the subject.
For this author, the State is a god like entity. It has a will. And it is forced to do something because of the given circumstances. Humans are some Lillipudians moving aimlessly around and eventually organizing commissions that reach some conclusions. Also, once instated, a State function can only expand.