"European Welfare States" is a timely textbook that offers a comprehensive but accessible overview of issues concerning European welfare states. It brings together a discussion of the theories and techniques of comparative policy analysis and a description of current developments in selected welfare state regimes. In particular, it provides: an overview of the development of welfare states in Europe; a discussion of key issues including welfare state theories, the role of globalization, gender and the welfare state; welfare typologies; and the role of public opinion; a detailed account of recent developments and current challenges in five European welfare states; and a detailed account of the key challenges facing European welfare states and possible future directions for welfare models including the role of the European Union in the development of social policy. "European Welfare States" is illustrated throughout with student-friendly features such as case-studies, chapter summaries, questions for discussion and guides for further reading.