Participation for everyone? Co-creation as a Response to the Challenges of the Welfare State presents a variety of discussions, approaches, and practices related to co-creation in public welfare services. A central element of co-creation applied to this field is that the welfare state addresses actors outside the public sector to create not only better but also less resource-intensive welfare services. The approach of co-creation has, however, been criticized for having an unambiguously normative and positive perspective that can overshadow the fact that it also involves the distribution and exercise of power. This book explores these critical perspectives. The contributing authors discuss the opportunities and challenges that co-creation offers for solving future welfare challenges. Overall, the book contributes to the discussion of whether everyone should – or can – participate, and if so, in what ways. One of the book’s objectives is to give insight into what co-creation is and could be while also contributing critical perspectives. This book will be of interest to students and staff in the higher-education sector, researchers, professionals in welfare services, politicians, and other stakeholders.

This book is included in DOAB.