The Passionate Economist: How Brian Abel-Smith Shaped Global Health and Social Welfare

by Sally Sheard

Overview

Brian Abel-Smith was one of the most influential expert advisers of the 20th century in shaping social welfare. He was a modern-day Thomas Paine, driven by a strong socialist mission to improve the lives of the poorest. This valuable and accessible book is the first biography of Abel-Smith. It takes a historical perspective to analyse the development of health and social welfare systems since the 1950s, exposing the critical impact of long-running debates on poverty and state responsibility, especially in Britain. This book also provides the first comparative study of how developing countries sought better health and social welfare, enabled by the World Health Organization and other agencies for whom Abel-Smith regularly worked. This book offers an engaging and useful study for students and researchers in health and social policy, history, politics and economics and interested general readers. It will also be essential reading for professionals working in those government ministries and institutions that Brian Abel-Smith helped to shape. LSE Pioneers in Social Policy Brian Abel-Smith, Richard Titmuss and Peter Townsend, all based at the London School of Economics and Political Science, made major contributions to the development of policies on the elderly, health care, law, poverty and welfare in the 20th century. This series of biographies tells the stories of these outstanding individuals: their backgrounds, ideas and work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447315155
Publisher:	Policy Press
Publication date:	11/28/2013
Series:	LSE Pioneers in Social Policy
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	576
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Sally Sheard is a health and social policy historian at the University of Liverpool, and Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also works as a consultant providing local authorities with historical context on contemporary health issues and has appeared on various TV and radio programmes, including BBC4's documentary series Health before the NHS. She is the author of (with Liam Donaldson) The Nation’s Doctor: The role of the Chief Medical Officer, 1855-1998 (Oxford, Radcliffe Medical, 2005), and a member of the editorial team of History&Policy.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Inheritances and duties, 1926-51; Inheritances: 1926-46; A wider world: 1946-51; Part 2: The politics of policies, 1951-79; Beveridge’s Britain: 1951-55; Political ambitions and private passions: 1955-59; Health and happiness: 1956-64; Lingua franca: 1956-67; Distractions and diversions: 1964-68; Values: 1968-70; Patriarchy and authority: 1970-74; 'Such marvellous fun': 1974-76; Disillusionment: 1976-79; International commuting: 1975-79; Part 3: Shifting the balance of power, 1979-96; In and outers: 1979-91; The end of the party: 1979-90; On the move: 1990-96; Epilogue: Stories, histories and biographies.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Sheard provides powerful evidence as to why Brian Abel-Smith, through his incisive and influential contributions to the development of health and social welfare policy both in Britain and further afield, should be regarded as one of the titans of post-1945 social administration." Journal of Social Policy

“How 'academic' knowledge and research actually impact on policy has always been a challenging question. Brian Abel-Smith's career as a scholar, networker, entrepreneur and shaper of global health and welfare systems provides a fascinating and important case-study. In skilfully weaving together the evidence from personal and professional archives, Sally Sheard's book allows us to understand much more about a man who had an extraordinary influence on public policy.” Professor Ann Oakley, Institute of Education, University of London

"As the dismantling of the NHS, as we have known it, proceeds apace, this biography brings alive a pivotal figure in its development since the 1950s. It reminds us of the strengths of the health and social welfare systems which we have taken too much for granted. Hopefully it will help inspire their reinstatement." Lord David Owen

"Sheard's biography is a pleasure to read and a fascinating account of the public intellectual role that Brian Abel-Smith played in welfare state policy and politics both at home and abroad." Professor Ted Marmor, Yale University, US

Editorial Reviews

This book has many of the qualities possessed by Brian Abel-Smith, its subject: lively, stimulating and committed. Brian was a citizen of the world, one who not only bridged international boundaries but also those of policy, politics and academe. And Sally Sheard has done this remarkable man justice by producing a remarkable biography.” Professor Julian Le Grand, London School of Economics and Political Science

“As a result of her exhaustive research and with insightful writing, Sally Sheard brings readers the life and work of an influential activist intellectual. Brian Abel-Smith set standards for conducting research on health services and systems, advising policymakers, governing healthcare organizations, and participating in an international network dedicated to improving the human condition.” Professor Daniel M. Fox, Milbank Memorial Fund

"With narrative verve Sheard...chart[s] a tantalising route map for future scholars [and]...stimulates salutary reflection for all concerned to make history more policy relevant." Social History of Medicine Advance Access

“This fascinating book brought Brian alive again for me. I knew him only in the later stages of his career, but the text made me recall his warmth, personal support and incisive mind.” Professor Anne Mills, Vice Director, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Professor of Health Economics and Policy

"This clearly written and wide-ranging volume provides powerful evidence as to why Brian Abel-Smith...should be regarded as one of the titans of post-1945 social administration." Journal of Social Policy

"The biography stimulates salutary reflection for all of us concerned to make history more policy relevant." Social History of Medicine.

From the Publisher

Deserves to find its way onto many people’s shelves . . . not just the historians of health and welfare but anyone interested in questions of social justice.

LSE Review of Books - Kate Bradley

As the dismantling of the National Health Service as we have known it proceeds apace, this biography brings alive a pivotal figure in its development since the 1950s. It reminds us of the strengths of the health and social welfare systems, which we have taken too much for granted. Hopefully it will help inspire their reinstatement.” 

Lord David Owen

This clearly written and wide-ranging volume provides powerful evidence as to why Brian Abel-Smith, through his incisive and influential contributions to the development of health and social welfare policy both in Britain and further afield, should be regarded as one of the titans of post-1945 social administration.

Journal of Social Policy

How 'academic' knowledge and research actually impact on policy has always been a challenging question. Brian Abel-Smith's career as a scholar, networker, entrepreneur, and shaper of global health and welfare systems provides a fascinating and important case-study. In skilfully weaving together the evidence from personal and professional archives, Sheard's book allows us to understand much more about a man who had an extraordinary influence on public policy.

University of London - Ann Oakley

This fascinating book brought Brian Abel-Smith alive again for me. I knew him only in the later stages of his career, but the text made me recall his warmth, personal support, and incisive mind.” 

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - Anne Mills

This book has many of the qualities possessed by Brian Abel-Smith, its subject: lively, stimulating, and committed. Brian was a citizen of the world, one who not only bridged international boundaries but also those of policy, politics, and academe. And Sheard has done this remarkable man justice by producing a remarkable biography.

London School of Economics - Julian Le Grand

Sheard’s biography is a pleasure to read and a fascinating account of the public intellectual role that Brian Abel-Smith played in welfare state policy and politics both at home and abroad.

Yale University - Ted Marmor

Here was a character so rich and complex that the life itself would illuminate much about British and international health and welfare. Sheard has amply fulfilled this promise. . . . A very full biography with much fine detail. . . . The Passionate Economist stimulates salutary reflection for all of us concerned to make history more policy relevant. What politicians really need, on this evidence, is first pragmatic advice on the framing and costing of policies, and then the nous to help steer them into law. The historian’s temporizing and reflexivity is rarely a prime requirement. However, if the adviser’s guidance is historically informed, as it clearly was in Abel-Smith’s case, then so much the better. Perhaps these are the figures we should address.

Social History of Medicine

As a result of her exhaustive research and with insightful writing, Sheard brings readers the life and work of an influential activist intellectual. Brian Abel-Smith set standards for conducting research on health services and systems, advising policy makers, governing healthcare organizations, and participating in an international network dedicated to improving the human condition.

Milbank Memorial Fund - Daniel M. Fox