Worldwide changes in the context of social policy have been set in process by a combination of forces, including globalisation, economic liberalisation and transitions to democracy.

These are leading to new patterns of inequality and insecurity that in turn reveal the limitations of state-driven welfare systems and the need to involve other institutions in social provision. Social policy needs rethinking to adjust to these new realities.

This Bulletin is based on work undertaken in the initial stage of a three-year research programme on social policy in a number of transitional, emerging and poor countries.