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The article studies the development of social services in Britain, France and Germany since the 1980s. In this period services grew strongly and were extended to large population groups, although the welfare state was in crisis. Moreover, the power of the state was enhanced. The share of public service provision declined somewhat, but this was more than balanced by increased public funding and intensified state control of delivery. The paper argues that the rise of social services does not signal a 'new' welfare state. Rather, the belated expansion of social services compared to other areas is explained by the fact that services have become crucial for the economy and the labour market only recently. Since this was the case, they have followed the classical path of welfare state expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the institutionalization of social services in England and Wales, France and Germany in comparative perspective. The focus is on recent changes that include large elements of privatization (in particular in England and Wales) and decentralization (mainly in France). These developments are often regarded as indications of a retreat of the welfare state from the area of social services. The article, however, supports an alternative interpretation that sees behind these developments an attempt by the welfare state to establish more integrated and socially controlled systems of social services. Variations between countries are explained partly by variations in their institutional heritage and partly by country-specific sociopolitical constellations and institutional innovations. The analysis combines the concept of welfare mix with a comparative-historical perspective. This approach offers an alternative to the dominant broad theories of welfare regimes that are less adequate for studying institutional change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]