ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the resilience of moralising discourses on poverty and solidarity in the public sphere concerning political narratives, public opinion and the scientific world alike. It discusses the moral and social grounds of solidarity and deservedness in society. The book explains the origins of the concept of deservedness in western societies and its evolution over time from the perspective of three recurring themes in public actions directed towards the poor: idleness, deviance and discipline. It also discusses the emergence of a moralising discourse in the welfare state in conjunction with the Great Recession. The book explores the world of solidarity and spatial inclusion of immigrants in host societies, and raises the question of whether different geographies of solidarity exist in Italy and the UK.
