This book explores one of the major developments in twentieth-century European history: the gradual emergence of welfare states aimed at providing social security, adequate health care, and equal education for citizens. It examines the evolution of welfare and the welfare state as they relate to ethnic and social minorities across Europe, spanning from the early 1900s to the post-Second World War period. Through six chapters covering Southern, Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, expert authors reveal how the distribution of welfare often depended on divisions between majority and minority populations, as well as distinctions between citizens and non-citizens.

The authors delve into the diverse ways welfare was provided to minority groups in different European countries during the twentieth century, addressing various types of minorities and exploring the roles of different forms and providers of welfare. This nuanced analysis sheds light on the complex interplay between social policies, minority rights, and national identity, offering valuable insights into the historical and political dynamics of welfare provision.

Covering broad subject areas such as European history, social policy, minority studies, and welfare state development, this book is an essential resource for scholars, students, and professionals in sociology, political science, history, and social work. It is also highly relevant for policymakers and anyone interested in understanding the historical foundations of social welfare and its implications for minority groups.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of European Review of History.