A Comparative Analysis of British and Czechoslovak Welfare State Development, 1944/45–1951/53

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of the development and functioning of the British and Czechoslovak welfare states during the pivotal period of 1944/45–1951/53. The primary aim of the research is to compare the transformations of social policies in both countries against the backdrop of dramatic post-war changes and to reflect on their embedding in the international context. Methodologically, the work draws on historical comparison, focusing on institutional architecture, funding mechanisms, the degree of universality, and the dynamics of relationships between the state, trade unions, and citizens. The central finding of the thesis is that, despite a shared initial inspiration from the British Beveridge Report of 1942, the practical implementation of social systems in both states diverged diametrically. Under the Labour government, Great Britain successfully built a model of a universal welfare state that, within the environment of democratic pluralism, guaranteed comprehensive protection for all citizens "from cradle to grave." Despite significant financial difficulties, this system endured as a stable pillar of British society thanks to post-war consensus and the pragmatism of political actors. In contrast, Czechoslovakia, which after the war also aimed for unification and modernization through the National Insurance Act, experienced a radical regression following the February 1948 coup. Under the influence of Sovietization, the welfare state was transformed into an authoritarian tool of power control and political disciplining. The original principles of universality were replaced by class - based selectivity, where entitlement to benefits became a reward for work loyalty and political obedience to the regime. The thesis concludes that while the British case represents the successful institutionalization of solidarity within democracy, the Czechoslovak development illustrates the fatal deformation of reform efforts by a totalitarian system.