Contents: Identifying social exclusion: some problems of meaning, Paul Littlewood and Sebastian Herkommer; The end of the full employment society: changing the basis for inclusion and exclusion, Georg Vobruba; Social exclusion and the flexibility of labour: a theoretical exploration, Gerrit van Kooten; Paid work - a crucial link between individuals and society?: some conclusions on the meaning of work for social integration, Ignace Glorieux; The underclass - a misleading concept and a scientific myth?: poverty and social exclusion as challenges to theories of class and social structure, Sebastian Herkommer and Max Koch; Women, work and welfare, Ingrid Jönsson; Ideas of social justice in the welfare state in Germany and The Netherlands, Roswitha Pioch; Stigma and non-take up in social policy: re-emerging properties of declining welfare state programmes?, Staffan Blomberg and Jan Petersson; Schooling, exclusion and self-exclusion, Paul Littlewood; Citizenship and exclusion in the European Union, Mike McGuinness; The socio-cultural exclusion and self-exclusion of foreigners in Finland: the case of Joensuu, M'hammed Sabour; Index.

’This book’s rich mix of theoretical discussion, critical literature review and conceptual development...will make it the key text for those wishing to understand what social exclusion in Europe means. In short, this is a fascinating and timely book which will deserve a wide readership.’ Robert McDonald, University of Teeside, UK ’This interesting and varied collection is a useful addition to the growing literature on social exclusion.’ Dr Angus Erskine, University of Stirling, UK ’An important and clarifying sociological discussion...’ Gunnar Olofsson, University of Vaxjo, Sweden ’This book will not only assist the reader in understanding several sources and dimensions of social exclusion: it offers thoughtful ideas of what can be done to combat contemporary forms of social inequality effectively.’ Godfried Engbersen, Erasmus University, The Netherlands ’...sharp, thoughtful and informed sociological work...’ European Societies