The purpose of this article is to explain what has been happening in the current public social service system in Spain. The Spanish Mediterranean welfare context in which social services are inserted, was developed later than in other countries in the immediate environment. Before reaching sufficient maturity and development we can identify several legal and political obstacles and deficiencies that cast doubts on the effectiveness of the universal principles of social services and their actual position in the welfare system
Social services; Spain; Social rights; Social welfare; Principle of universality; Poverty and exclusion
