Bill Jordan – författare

Integrated Arithmetic and Basic Algebra, Fifth Edition, integrates arithmetic and algebra to allow students to see the big picture of math. Rather than separating these two subjects, this text helps students recognize algebra as a natural extension of arithmetic. As a result, students see how concepts are interrelated and are better prepared for future courses.

Originally published in 1976, Freedom and the Welfare State, critiques the Welfare State in Britain and analyses the relationship between freedom and welfare. The book considers philosophical, literary and political expressions of the ideals of liberty, and relates them to present-day issues in social policy and the social services. It tackles the major questions emerging in the current welfare debate such as, does state assistance destroy individual initiative and independence and, are welfare institutions agencies of social control which reinforce the dominant economic order?

Originally published in 1976, Freedom and the Welfare State, critiques the Welfare State in Britain and analyses the relationship between freedom and welfare. The book considers philosophical, literary and political expressions of the ideals of liberty, and relates them to present-day issues in social policy and the social services. It tackles the major questions emerging in the current welfare debate such as, does state assistance destroy individual initiative and independence and, are welfare institutions agencies of social control which reinforce the dominant economic order?

Originally published in 1981, Automatic Poverty provides a much-needed alternative to the Radical Right’s analysis. The book argues that Britain’s economic decline is symptomatic of an advanced stage of industrialisation in which productive processes are increasingly mechanised, but output remains static. Under these circumstances workers become redundant, the income of the working class diminishes, and dependence on the state increases. The ‘Ricardo phenomenon’ has become long-term feature of the British economy, and the author shows that neither Keynesian nor monetarist policies can remedy its consequences. It reflects a critical stage in the development of capitalism.

Originally published in 1981, Automatic Poverty provides a much-needed alternative to the Radical Right’s analysis. The book argues that Britain’s economic decline is symptomatic of an advanced stage of industrialisation in which productive processes are increasingly mechanised, but output remains static. Under these circumstances workers become redundant, the income of the working class diminishes, and dependence on the state increases. The ‘Ricardo phenomenon’ has become long-term feature of the British economy, and the author shows that neither Keynesian nor monetarist policies can remedy its consequences. It reflects a critical stage in the development of capitalism.

Originally published in 1973, Paupers looks at poverty through the lens of class and the Welfare State. The book examines those living in poverty, and the direct effects poverty has. The book follows the basis that the economic factors which gave rise to poverty, have little to do with the Welfare State, and that fragmentary changes, can do little to change them. The book’s core argument examines the political and social significance of poverty, and look at the underlying causes and effects of the drift towards a more unequal and unjust society. The book also analyses the factors which bring economically disadvantaged people together, and what happens when they join for collective action.

Originally published in 1973, Paupers looks at poverty through the lens of class and the Welfare State. The book examines those living in poverty, and the direct effects poverty has. The book follows the basis that the economic factors which gave rise to poverty, have little to do with the Welfare State, and that fragmentary changes, can do little to change them. The book’s core argument examines the political and social significance of poverty, and look at the underlying causes and effects of the drift towards a more unequal and unjust society. The book also analyses the factors which bring economically disadvantaged people together, and what happens when they join for collective action.

Central to the book is an examination of this orthodoxy's appeal to the concept of social justice. Bill Jordan demonstrates how values derived from the family and voluntary associations are in danger of running counter to the more fundamental principles of liberal democracy and the requirements of transnational economic exchange. He links the new politics of welfare to liberal and communitarian theories of citizenship and social justice, and assesses the broader prospects for European social policy in the struggle over economic and political integration.

`For more than a decade, Bill Jordan has been one of our most thoughtful and independent thinkers on the future of welfare. Anyone who wants to know more about what is happening to global welfare and why and how it should be changed should read this book' - Chris Pierson, Department of Politics, University of Nottingham

Central to the book is an examination of this orthodoxy's appeal to the concept of social justice. Bill Jordan demonstrates how values derived from the family and voluntary associations are in danger of running counter to the more fundamental principles of liberal democracy and the requirements of transnational economic exchange. He links the new politics of welfare to liberal and communitarian theories of citizenship and social justice, and assesses the broader prospects for European social policy in the struggle over economic and political integration.

`For more than a decade, Bill Jordan has been one of our most thoughtful and independent thinkers on the future of welfare. Anyone who wants to know more about what is happening to global welfare and why and how it should be changed should read this book' - Chris Pierson, Department of Politics, University of Nottingham

`This book is a well-written contribution to both the British Third Way debate and the welfare state literature.... The book will appeal to upper-level undergraduates as well as scholars of British politics and the welfare state' - Political Studies

`Jordan begins by establishing New Labour's suspicion of local government framing its policy on welfare. Fundamentally, there exists a need for social workers to educate themselves as to the nature of this social experiment which New Labour has embarked upon. It challenges social workers to be aware…This is an interesting and at times challenging book, reiterating the history and roots of current ideology within government...The work is grounded in a contemporary context of social services and social work practice, challenging the withdrawal of social work behind a barrier of `managerialism, budget control, form filling…into office based assessment and rationing'… Finally, it offers a satisfying critique to the dominant `hegemonic' of `evidence-based practice', arguing for research at the level of means rather than the technical… Jordan similarly argues in his conclusion that all of the government white papers, guidelines, etc. indicate a lack of clarity of purpose and method social work should retain its belief in 'a human and creative activity… which engages with people's emotions… as well as their rights and obligations' - British Journal of Social Work

The New Labour government in the UK is committed to a programme of reform of the welfare state that will pull away safety nets and replace them by trampolines, to bounce citizens back into active participation. Its regime of 'tough love' will make more demands on those claiming benefits and services, as well as clamping down on dependencey, fraud and crime. This will be done by changing the culture of welfare agencies, towards promoting achievement and independence, as well as meeting 'genuine need'.

In Social Work and the Third Way, Bill Jordan provides an accessible and lively analysis of the tensions between 'toughness' and 'love' in the Third Way's political philosophy, and the problems of implementing New Labour's programme. He looks at the government's reliance on face-to-face methods for activating citizens and changing their behaviour in many of its initiatives. On the one hand, New Labour places a surprising amount of faith in the ability of counsellors and advisers to bring about the changes it requires; yet it is highly suspicious of the public sector in general, and local authorities in particular, as part of the 'forces of conservatism' in the UK. Hence it spawns new agencies and projects, often with a strong enforcement ethos, and regulates the whole implementation process through strict top-down surveillance.

In all this, professional social work, and local authority social services, are relegated to a tightly circumscribed role in social care. The author argues for a new, more generous and expansive approach to practice, which can do justice to the challenges of change under New Labour's regime and in doing so Social Work and the Third Way provides an important and topical contribution to the debate on the future of the Welfare State and will be essential reading for students and researchers in social work, social policy and politics.

`This book is a well-written contribution to both the British Third Way debate and the welfare state literature.... The book will appeal to upper-level undergraduates as well as scholars of British politics and the welfare state' - Political Studies

`Jordan begins by establishing New Labour's suspicion of local government framing its policy on welfare. Fundamentally, there exists a need for social workers to educate themselves as to the nature of this social experiment which New Labour has embarked upon. It challenges social workers to be aware…This is an interesting and at times challenging book, reiterating the history and roots of current ideology within government...The work is grounded in a contemporary context of social services and social work practice, challenging the withdrawal of social work behind a barrier of `managerialism, budget control, form filling…into office based assessment and rationing'… Finally, it offers a satisfying critique to the dominant `hegemonic' of `evidence-based practice', arguing for research at the level of means rather than the technical… Jordan similarly argues in his conclusion that all of the government white papers, guidelines, etc. indicate a lack of clarity of purpose and method social work should retain its belief in 'a human and creative activity… which engages with people's emotions… as well as their rights and obligations' - British Journal of Social Work

The New Labour government in the UK is committed to a programme of reform of the welfare state that will pull away safety nets and replace them by trampolines, to bounce citizens back into active participation. Its regime of 'tough love' will make more demands on those claiming benefits and services, as well as clamping down on dependencey, fraud and crime. This will be done by changing the culture of welfare agencies, towards promoting achievement and independence, as well as meeting 'genuine need'.

In Social Work and the Third Way, Bill Jordan provides an accessible and lively analysis of the tensions between 'toughness' and 'love' in the Third Way's political philosophy, and the problems of implementing New Labour's programme. He looks at the government's reliance on face-to-face methods for activating citizens and changing their behaviour in many of its initiatives. On the one hand, New Labour places a surprising amount of faith in the ability of counsellors and advisers to bring about the changes it requires; yet it is highly suspicious of the public sector in general, and local authorities in particular, as part of the 'forces of conservatism' in the UK. Hence it spawns new agencies and projects, often with a strong enforcement ethos, and regulates the whole implementation process through strict top-down surveillance.

In all this, professional social work, and local authority social services, are relegated to a tightly circumscribed role in social care. The author argues for a new, more generous and expansive approach to practice, which can do justice to the challenges of change under New Labour's regime and in doing so Social Work and the Third Way provides an important and topical contribution to the debate on the future of the Welfare State and will be essential reading for students and researchers in social work, social policy and politics.

First published in 1979, Helping in Social Work elaborates on the personal processes of influence in social work between clients and social workers. Shifting focus from the organizational structure of social work to face-to-face interactions, the author expounds on the personal and qualitative components in social work. The aim of this book is to present a simple, practical and positive account of the elements that make up good practice in the sort of work which statutory social workers do, without relying on excessive jargon. These experiences of helping and being helped will be of importance to students of social work and social policy as well as any reader trying to gain an insight into the everyday realities of social workers.

First published in 1994, Putting the Family First is a study of better-off couples that clarifies the relationship between individualism and family values. Partners’ cultural practices focus on "making something of themselves", being "supportive" of each other, and spending "quality time" with children. But their economic strategies are directed towards competition for positional goods, especially higher education and good jobs for their offspring. The authors argue that, although these strategies are rational for individual families, they are collectively wasteful and mutually frustrating, and construct a narrow and exclusive version of citizenship. Such private morality depletes civic culture, and is socially costly.

This revealing study provides a valuable text for students, with considerable appeal for courses in sociology, social policy, gender and cultural studies. It will be of broader interest to others connected to avoid the unravelling of our social fabric.

First published in 1979, Helping in Social Work elaborates on the personal processes of influence in social work between clients and social workers. Shifting focus from the organizational structure of social work to face-to-face interactions, the author expounds on the personal and qualitative components in social work. The aim of this book is to present a simple, practical and positive account of the elements that make up good practice in the sort of work which statutory social workers do, without relying on excessive jargon. These experiences of helping and being helped will be of importance to students of social work and social policy as well as any reader trying to gain an insight into the everyday realities of social workers.

First published in 1994, Putting the Family First is a study of better-off couples that clarifies the relationship between individualism and family values. Partners’ cultural practices focus on "making something of themselves", being "supportive" of each other, and spending "quality time" with children. But their economic strategies are directed towards competition for positional goods, especially higher education and good jobs for their offspring. The authors argue that, although these strategies are rational for individual families, they are collectively wasteful and mutually frustrating, and construct a narrow and exclusive version of citizenship. Such private morality depletes civic culture, and is socially costly.

This revealing study provides a valuable text for students, with considerable appeal for courses in sociology, social policy, gender and cultural studies. It will be of broader interest to others connected to avoid the unravelling of our social fabric.

This book examines how different levels and forms of human collectivity have interacted, voluntarily or coercively, and how these transformed societies and polities.

Every size and type of human collective involve co-operation among members and competition with other groups. The two most recent trends in human relations – individualism and economic globalisation – have contributed to authoritarianism in politics and inequality among citizens. This book analyses how collective action might offset the most destructive consequences for well-being of these two tendencies. It explores these manifestations of collective action and their impact on social relations and social policies in the developed world. Further, the volume sets out a programme for more progressive and egalitarian future for global populations.

Engaging, accessible and transdisciplinary, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of politics and public policy, sociology, social psychology, social policy and social work, as well as political philosophy, political economy and migration studies.

This book examines how different levels and forms of human collectivity have interacted, voluntarily or coercively, and how these transformed societies and polities.

Every size and type of human collective involve co-operation among members and competition with other groups. The two most recent trends in human relations – individualism and economic globalisation – have contributed to authoritarianism in politics and inequality among citizens. This book analyses how collective action might offset the most destructive consequences for well-being of these two tendencies. It explores these manifestations of collective action and their impact on social relations and social policies in the developed world. Further, the volume sets out a programme for more progressive and egalitarian future for global populations.

Engaging, accessible and transdisciplinary, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of politics and public policy, sociology, social psychology, social policy and social work, as well as political philosophy, political economy and migration studies.