Family, kinship and state in contemporary Europe

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In recent years, European policy specialists have increasingly recognized the extended family's crucial role in social security provision. This perspective necessitates that government officials and social scientists explore how and why family members assist one another, as well as the conditions under which they may withhold support. The editors and their collaborators present a comprehensive three-volume collection of historical, sociological, and ethnographic data that examines contemporary kin relationships across Europe. The volumes highlight the strengths and weaknesses of various kinship systems and their susceptibility to state influence. Historical and comparative analyses reveal how political and economic changes affect kinship networks, exploring variables such as marriage, cohabitation, divorce rates, declining fertility, and aging populations. The studies illustrate the evolving role of family in providing care, education, financial support, and job assistance, while also showcasing the diverse family models across different European regions. Additionally, they address how new partnership forms, decreasing birth rates, and societal aging reshape family dynamics and their contributions to social security. The second volume presents the most extensive comparative ethnography of European kinship, focusing on selected communities in 19 regions of Western and Eastern Europe.