Jennifer Pribble is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond. She has had articles published in the American Sociological Review, Comparative Politics, the Latin American Research Review, and Studies in Comparative International Development. She was awarded the Lynda Dykstra Award for the best dissertation in the social sciences by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2009.

'Why are social policy outcomes so distinct between progressive governments? Jennifer Pribble demonstrates that similar goals to reduce poverty and inequality follow different paths. Her book combines legacies, power resources, and strategies to unpack 'the left', showing the ways, means, and constraints shaping policy reform. This book is a superb contribution to the study of social policy and inequality.' Juliana Martinez Franzoni, University of Costa Rica

• Acknowledgments; Acronyms; 1. From special privilege to social rights: universalism in social policy; 2. Creating universalistic social policy: the role of policy legacies, electoral competition, and party character; 3. Healthcare reform in Chile and Uruguay; 4. Social assistance reform in Chile and Uruguay; 5. Education reform in Chile and Uruguay; 6. Party character in Chile and Uruguay; 7. Slow progress toward universalism: Argentina and Venezuela in comparative perspective; 8. Latin America's left parties and the politics of poverty and inequality; References; List of interviews; Index.

Jennifer Pribble is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond. She has had articles published in the American Sociological Review, Comparative Politics, the Latin American Research Review, and Studies in Comparative International Development. She was awarded the Lynda Dykstra Award for the best dissertation in the social sciences by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2009.

'Why are social policy outcomes so distinct between progressive governments? Jennifer Pribble demonstrates that similar goals to reduce poverty and inequality follow different paths. Her book combines legacies, power resources, and strategies to unpack 'the left', showing the ways, means, and constraints shaping policy reform. This book is a superb contribution to the study of social policy and inequality.' Juliana Martinez Franzoni, University of Costa Rica

• Acknowledgments; Acronyms; 1. From special privilege to social rights: universalism in social policy; 2. Creating universalistic social policy: the role of policy legacies, electoral competition, and party character; 3. Healthcare reform in Chile and Uruguay; 4. Social assistance reform in Chile and Uruguay; 5. Education reform in Chile and Uruguay; 6. Party character in Chile and Uruguay; 7. Slow progress toward universalism: Argentina and Venezuela in comparative perspective; 8. Latin America's left parties and the politics of poverty and inequality; References; List of interviews; Index.

Jennifer Pribble is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond. She has had articles published in the American Sociological Review, Comparative Politics, the Latin American Research Review, and Studies in Comparative International Development. She was awarded the Lynda Dykstra Award for the best dissertation in the social sciences by the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2009.

'Why are social policy outcomes so distinct between progressive governments? Jennifer Pribble demonstrates that similar goals to reduce poverty and inequality follow different paths. Her book combines legacies, power resources, and strategies to unpack 'the left', showing the ways, means, and constraints shaping policy reform. This book is a superb contribution to the study of social policy and inequality.' Juliana Martinez Franzoni, University of Costa Rica

• Acknowledgments; Acronyms; 1. From special privilege to social rights: universalism in social policy; 2. Creating universalistic social policy: the role of policy legacies, electoral competition, and party character; 3. Healthcare reform in Chile and Uruguay; 4. Social assistance reform in Chile and Uruguay; 5. Education reform in Chile and Uruguay; 6. Party character in Chile and Uruguay; 7. Slow progress toward universalism: Argentina and Venezuela in comparative perspective; 8. Latin America's left parties and the politics of poverty and inequality; References; List of interviews; Index.