ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. During the last two decades, there has been growing interest in the history of mutualism. This interest has been fuelled, by increasing scepticism over the capacity of the state to meet welfare needs, coupled with mounting concern over the seemingly inexorable rise in the costs associated with health care and pension provision. In this book the chapters are designed to help place some of this ferment of contemporary ideas in a more historical context. The chapters offer a series of important and fascinating insights into the evolution of mutual aid organizations and the development of a number of different aspects of contemporary health and welfare policy. It also illustrate some of the limitations of these organizations, both in terms of their ability to meet the needs of their existing members and their capacity to extend the benefits of membership to a wider population.
