ABSTRACT
This chapter summarises the difficulties of defining the term "welfare state". It focuses on the theoretical discussion accompanying the so-called "established welfare states". The chapter examines and systematises different conceptualisations of the welfare state. It traces dominant trends and patterns in welfare state theorising. The chapter describes the historical development of welfare states, since definitions of the concept can only be understood in relation to the empirical phenomena to which they refer. The narrow definition of the welfare state focuses on the "traditional terrain of social amelioration", which refers primarily to "income transfer and social services". However, to which policy sectors the welfare state's activity in this narrow definition refers is highly controversial, can differ widely between national settings and depends on the researcher's theoretical perspective. The chapter refrains from a conclusive definition of the welfare state, and argues for a dynamic definition according to the context.
