Developments in Swedish social policy : resisting Dionysus /

While most scholars of welfare states neglect the importance of culture, Gould privileges it to explain the sustained opposition of Swedes to dismantling their welfare state. For Gould, Sweden's welfare state is anchored in and epitomizes an Appollonian culture in which governments are expected to resist the Dionysian excesses associated with free-market capitalism. In addition to exploring those policies often broached by analysts of Sweden's welfare state (e.g., unemployment and social insurance), he considers drug and alcohol policies, gray pensions (with attention to elderly immigrants), and equality policies (including initiatives to end male violence and prostitution). His breadth and emphasis make the book refreshing. Gould is circumspect with most of his case studies. However, by concluding that recently adopted gender equality reforms have made Sweden a more "women friendly" state, he presumes that substantive implementation necessarily follows policy adoption. Though a common conclusion for scholars of this welfare state, his sage reluctance to embrace a similar position for other policies should have also extended to women. That said, this unusually well written, broad, and detailed examination of Swedish social policy is essential reading for anyone interested in the welfare state. Upper-division undergraduates and above. R. Amy Elman Kalamazoo College