"This timely book is essential reading, offering highly original and critical insights into the policy process in its contemporary context." Marjorie Mayo, Professor of Community Development, Goldsmith's College, University of London "...this book forms a welcome addition to the current literature." Maurice Specht in Critical Policy Studies "This edited collection makes an outstanding contribution to the debate in a provocative, compelling and original way. It is rare indeed for an edited collection to have the conceptual coherence and sense of lively dialogue on display across its chapters. This is a must read for policy makers and practitioners, social science researchers and students, and, of course, potentially subversive citizens." Professor Gordon Hughes, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University "This is an exciting and sustained interrogation of the social relations of 'responsible' welfare at the point of delivery. It transposes and transforms Lipsky's notion of 'the street level bureaucrat' by exploring agency, counter-agency and subversion within contemporary welfare governance. A must-read." Fiona Williams, Professor of Social Policy, University of Leeds Mayo's testimonial in reviews Hughes has also written a quote for Securing Respect