| The organizing principles underlying the foundation of the British National Health Service (NHS) are more collectivist than liberal. A market-oriented libertarian conception of social justice remained the dominant conviction in British society until well into the twentieth century. During World War II, however, an egalitarian conception of social justice became increasingly prevalent during the collectivist response to the war. The 1948 NHS is a product of this parallel shift--historical and philosophical; it reflected the egalitarian values and collectivist framework of the war. But as wartime memories faded, traditional British liberal values strengthened again. The 1990 National Health Service and Community Care Act represents a resurgence of individualistic, libertarian values connected to this historical liberal tradition. |
