The origins of the welfare state

From the end of 19th century, in every industrial country of Europe, states have taken mesures of social protection, of variable importance. On 1938, the propagande of totalitarian governments of Italy, Germany and USSR allege the largest choice of mesures, with somme real effects. These effects are a major explanation of large adhesion of populations to the regimes. In democratic countries all peoples attached to the traditional conception of liberal and non-interventionist state struggle against the emergence of welfare state. Scandinavian nations succeed in adoption of comprehensive legislations. During the inter-wars period, British government meet difficulties in application of mesures adopted before the first world war. In France a populationist and nationalist drift is a reply to the menace of totalitarisms. Classification JEL : N34 I30.