Creating the Welfare State in France, 1880-1940

Abstract

In Creating the Welfare State in France, 1880-1940 Timothy Smith argues that although post-World War II politicians have attempted to take credit for the creation of welfare state, the social reform movement in France actually grew out of World War I. Smith shows that French social spending before World War II was well above the European average and demonstrates that the present welfare state is based on a structure that already existed but was expanded and consolidated with great political fanfare during the 1940s.