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This paper explores the diverse ways in which the Conservative Party has responded to the notion of progress in relation to social policy during its periods in government since the Second World War. It identifies three distinctive approaches – one nation progressive conservatism (1945–74), neo-liberal (anti-progressive) conservatism (1979–97) and progressive neo-liberal conservatism (2010–present), highlighting the dilemmas and difficulties the party has faced in engaging with a concept that it has always found to be problematic.

Social policy is of key importance to contemporary society, accounting for two thirds of public expenditure and, through provision such as the NHS, pensions, benefits, schools, universities and social care, touching on the lives of much of the population on a daily basis. It has also been one of the areas where the Conservative party have sought to change their image, and to some extent policies, under David Cameron. Drawing upon a range of evidence, including interviews with more than ten per cent of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, this article examines the potential challenges for a Conservative government of either stance, focusing on the extent of possible support for the Conservatives' approach to social policy amongst three key groups: the public, MPs, and members of the House of Lords.

This study examines the nature and variations of welfare state systems in Northeast Asia, taking the examples of Japan, South Korea and Mainland China. While parting from the very popular and dominating classification of welfare states of Esping-Andersen this article proposes the existence of welfare state systems that are purely conservative in nature since conservative political parties and/or conservative social policies shaped welfare state development in this part of the world. The article focuses on the main common features and the existing variations of social policies . It finishes with a summary of most important features of conservative social policy in three case studies covered.

A timely consideration of the development and content of the Conservatives' approaches to social policy and how they inform the Coalition's policies.