Social care policy in the twenty-first century: an introduction

This introductory chapter of the handbook provides a comprehensive conceptual framework for analyzing the current landscape of social care policy research, highlighting its key theoretical and empirical challenges. The central argument posits that social care has emerged as a distinct and mature policy domain on a global scale. Over the past few decades, care-related issues have become increasingly politicized, driving substantial expansions in public expenditure, service coverage, and the recognition of care as a universal social right. Paradoxically, however, these advancements have deepened the care deficit, revealing persistent financial constraints, organizational complexities, and institutional fragmentation within care systems. In this evolving context, social care policy research plays a crucial role. Beyond mapping the intricate dynamics of policy developments, it must also critically examine policy outcomes, particularly in terms of meeting care needs and addressing gender, ethnic, and economic inequalities.