The institution of the family changed hugely during the course of the twentieth century. In this major new work Göran Therborn provides a global history and sociology of the family as an institution, and of politics within the family. "...a great work of historical intellect and imagination. It is the fruit of a rare combination of gifts. Trained as a sociologist, Therborn is a highly conceptual thinker, allying the formal rigor of his discipline at its best with a command of a vast range of empirical data. The result is a powerful theoretical structure, supported by a fascinating body of evidence. In it, you can find the largest changes in human relations of modern times." - The Nation 'The richness of the data and the text provide a fascinating account of how much, and in some cases how little, family systems have changed over the century, and the pace of the book certainly underlines the pace of these changes. It deserves to become a classic text for students and researchers of families past, present and future.' - Social Policy, Volume 36/2 - 2007