Simon Duncan – författare

A continual problem in modern societies is how housing of a good standard can be provided for all those who need it. Some countries, and some local areas within any one country, have clearly succeeded better than others. Originally published in 1985, Housing, States and Localities shows how and why success and failure in housing provision come about. It does this using comparative analysis of two countries – Britain and Sweden – and four localities within Britain – Sheffield, rural Norfolk, Crawley and Brighton. Variation in the levels and forms of housing provision are explained by variations in how housing is built, how state policies are formed, and how consumers react to their housing. But the nature of these social relations varies from place to place, and the book also relates differences in housing provision to the different characteristics of these states and localities.

It is very much an argument of the book that success and failure in housing can only be understood in the context of wider social conflicts and social orders. The book also examines the strengths and weaknesses of comparative methodology and establishes a general strategy for urban and regional research – one that recognizes the similar structures and processes encountered in capitalist societies but at the same time can deal with the actual situations specific to particular places at particular times.

A continual problem in modern societies is how housing of a good standard can be provided for all those who need it. Some countries, and some local areas within any one country, have clearly succeeded better than others. Originally published in 1985, Housing, States and Localities shows how and why success and failure in housing provision come about. It does this using comparative analysis of two countries – Britain and Sweden – and four localities within Britain – Sheffield, rural Norfolk, Crawley and Brighton. Variation in the levels and forms of housing provision are explained by variations in how housing is built, how state policies are formed, and how consumers react to their housing. But the nature of these social relations varies from place to place, and the book also relates differences in housing provision to the different characteristics of these states and localities.

It is very much an argument of the book that success and failure in housing can only be understood in the context of wider social conflicts and social orders. The book also examines the strengths and weaknesses of comparative methodology and establishes a general strategy for urban and regional research – one that recognizes the similar structures and processes encountered in capitalist societies but at the same time can deal with the actual situations specific to particular places at particular times.

While the family and its role continues to be a key topic in social and government policy, much of the literature is concerned with describing the dramatic changes that are taking place. By contrast, Analysing Families directly addresses the social processes responsible for these changes - how social policy interacts with what families actually do. Topics covered include:* the relationship between morality and rationality in the family context* the variety of contemporary family forms* the purposes and assumptions of government interventions in family life* the relationship between different welfare states and different ideas about motherhood* ''Third Way'' thinking on families* divorce and post-divorce arrangements* lone parenthood and step-parenting* the decision to have children* the economic approach to understanding family process* the legitimacy of state intervention in family life.With contributions from the UK, and North America, Analysing Families provides the framework within which to understand an increasingly important element in social policy.

While the family and its role continues to be a key topic in social and government policy, much of the literature is concerned with describing the dramatic changes that are taking place. By contrast, Analysing Families directly addresses the social processes responsible for these changes - how social policy interacts with what families actually do. Topics covered include:* the relationship between morality and rationality in the family context* the variety of contemporary family forms* the purposes and assumptions of government interventions in family life* the relationship between different welfare states and different ideas about motherhood* ''Third Way'' thinking on families* divorce and post-divorce arrangements* lone parenthood and step-parenting* the decision to have children* the economic approach to understanding family process* the legitimacy of state intervention in family life.With contributions from the UK, and North America, Analysing Families provides the framework within which to understand an increasingly important element in social policy.

This book presents a new approach to understanding contemporary personal life, taking account of how people build their lives through a bricolage of ‘tradition’ and ‘modern’. The authors examine how tradition is used and adapted, invented and re-invented; how meaning can leak from past to present; the ways in which people’s agencies differ as they make decisions; and the process of bricolage in making new arrangements. These themes are illustrated through a variety of case studies, ranging from personal life in the 1950s, young women and marriage, the rise of cohabitation, female name change, living apart together, and creating weddings. Centrally the authors emphasise the re-traditionalisation involved in de-traditionalisation and the connectedness involved in individualised processes of relationship change.

Reinventing Couples will be of interest to students and scholars across a range of disciplines including sociology, social work and social policy.