从济贫法到福利国家——论英国社会立法的进程及其作用与影响

作为近代资产阶级民主,法治的发祥地,英国的社会立法亦走在世界前列,其渊源可以一直追溯到英国中世纪的济贫法,英国的社会立法经历了一个漫长,曲折的过程,其间虽出现过反复甚至倒退,但最终朝着正确的方向发展,逐渐趋于成熟和稳定,为英国“福利国家”的建成奠定了坚实的基础,并为其他国家在社会立法方面提供了一个效仿的样板,想念对于正致力于建立社会福利保障制度的我国也不乏借鉴意义。

From Poor Law to Welfare State: On the Process and Function of Social Legislation in UK

As the birthplace of modern capitalist democracy and rule by law, social legislation in Britain also stands in the front rank-its origin can be traced back to Poor Law in Medieval England. Social Legislation in Britain has gone through a long and tortuous process. It's even gone back and forth, nevertheless, it develops in the correct direction and tends to reach maturity and stability-thus laying a solid foundation of the establishment of"welfare state" in Britain and setting an example for other countries in social legislation. It is believed that social legislation in Great Britain can also be used for reference to China today.