Europe's social model - its system of welfare and socialprotection - is regarded by many as the jewel in the crown.It is what helps to give the European societies their distinctivequalities of social cohesion and care for the vulnerable. Overrecent years, however, the social model has come under great strainin many states within the European Union - unemployment, forexample, remains stubbornly high. The resulting tensions havefuelled dissatisfaction with the European project as a whole,culminating in the rejection of Europe's proposed newconstitution.Reform of the social model is therefore a matter of urgency. Ithas to go hand in hand with the quest to regenerate economicgrowth. The weaker performers in Europe over the past few years canlearn a good deal from states that have coped more effectively. Butmore radical changes need to be contemplated in the face of theimpact of globalization, rapidly increasing cultural diversity andchanging demography. The author argues that the traditional welfarestate needs to be rethought. We have to bring lifestyle change intothe heart of what welfare means. Moreover, environmental issuesmust be directly connected to other citizenship obligations. Theseinnovations have to be made at the same time as Europes competitiveposition is upgraded.This original and path-breaking book will rank alongsideBeyond Left and Right, The Third Way and other worksby Anthony Giddens that have helped reshape social and politicalthinking over recent decades.