Book review: The activation of citizenship in Europe

"The Activation of Citizenship in Europe." Thomas Pfister. Manchester University Press. 2012. --- In the past decade, welfare systems in Europe have experienced significant reforms, moving away from the idea of simple welfare compensation to greater investment in citizens’ social capital. This book looks at how this ‘social citizenship’ can be activated in national and European contexts by reinforcing political participation. Paulina Tambakaki finds that the book covers welfare modernisation across Europe over the past 15 years, with useful case studies from Germany, the UK and Hungary, but also that it is somewhat lacking in its discussion of exactly how and where political participation can reinforce social citizenship.