Table of Contents

Part One: Social security evolution in a global perspective: what is at stake? A brief history of social security; Essential issues of social protection in our society; The new approaches to securing human existence in society; Part Two: Understanding social security in its societal environment: which methodology? A brief history of the sociology of social security; A macro-sociological approach to the study of social security; The use of macro-sociological factor analysis in comparative studies; Part Three: Reinventing social security in times of economic crisis: foundations of a new political consensus
Adapting social security to a new societal environment; Final reflections.

Part one: Social security evolution in a global perspective: What is at stake?: A brief history of social security; Essential issues of social protection in our society; The new approaches to securing human existence in society; Part two: Understanding social security in its societal environment: What methodology?: A brief history of the sociology of social security; A macro-sociological approach to the study of social security; The use of macro-sociological factor analysis in comparative studies; Part three: Reinventing social security in times of economic crisis: Foundations of a new political consensus: Adapting social security to a new societal environment; Final reflections.

About the Author

Vladimir Rys is a former Secretary General of the International Social Security Association in Geneva. He has written a pioneering study on the sociology of social security. On retirement, he returned to academic research and studied social security in transition countries with special reference to the Czech Republic. His current research focus is on social security problems at worldwide level.

Reviews

"Drawing upon a lifetime of international experience in social security, a case is made in defence of the integrity of institutional "social security" - earnings-related social insurance programmes. In this thought-provoking volume, Rys argues that the trend towards a blurring of the roles of social insurance and social assistance must be reversed." Roddy McKinnon, Editor, International Social Security Review