This edited collection uses democratic forums to study what people want from the welfare state in five European countries. The forum method yields new insights into how people frame social issues, their priorities and acceptable solutions. This is the first time democratic forums have been used as a research tool in this field.

The contributors research show that most people recognize growing inequality, population ageing, paying for health care and pensions, social care and immigration as areas where the welfare state faces real challenges. The most striking findings are the high level of support across all countries for social investment, and the way justifications for this vary between welfare state regimes. The authors also explore key areas such as immigration and intergenerational differences.

Attitudes, Aspirations and Welfare will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines including politics, social policy and sociology, as wellas policy-makers.

Peter Taylor-Gooby is Research Professor of Social Policy at the University of Kent, UK.

Benjamin Leruth is Assistant Professor of Politics and Public Administration at the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra, Australia. 

1. New Challenges for the Welfare State and New Ways to Study Them.- 2. Individualism and neo-liberalism.- 3. European welfare nationalism: A deliberative forum study in five countries.- 4. Attitudes to inequalities: Citizen deliberation about the (re-)distribution of income and wealth in four welfare state regimes.- 5. Intergenerational solidarity and the sustainability of state welfare.- 6. The provision of care whose responsibility and why?.- 7. Healthcare futures: Visions of solidarity and the sustainability of European healthcare systems.- 8. Labour market challenges and the role of social investment.- 9. Democratic forums and welfare state attitudes.