Abstract

The present crisis of Welfare is analysed by the author from the point of view of its social legitimation and of the historical evolution of the institutional and legal instruments - social insurance, assistance, social service - which implemented the Social State itself. In the first paragraph only a problem of political consensus is envisaged provided that the legitimacy of Welfare States does not appear to be under discussion nowadays in Europe; on the contrary, as regards the legal instruments, it is appreciable the decline of the "old" assistance and social insurances, incapable of keeping the pace with the present society and specially with the organisation of the labour market. Finally, the author envisages a possible new development of social protection under two conditions: the break of the historical link between employment and social protection and a new universalistic development of social services, organised not only by the State but also by private non profit organisations.