This book offers unprecedented insights into both the workings of the Commonwealth and into the contrasting experiences of member states within it, with regard to social exclusion. Chapters on British social policy tradition and on concepts of social inclusion/exclusion, preface a series of case studies illustrative of different member states' experiences to date.

The book concludes by re-examining the Commonwealth per se , with reference to its own problems of development and, nevertheless, its social policy development potential for the future.