The writer intends to underline the importance of ideologies, meant as "political, social and cultural projects". In this sense, ideologies are the roots of every form of State and institution. In particular, the writer focuses on the Welfare State, the last form of State which is grounded on politics as an activity projected to the future. Yet, the Welfare State is currently in decline. This essay analyzes this crisis and its different causes. These are: the strength of modern capitalism which overtakes politics; the current trends of markets and public policies towards privatization, the malfunctioning of public policies which usually affects the State, reducing its reliability. Moreover, the author believes that the main issue is the crisis of "meaning" behind the crisis of the institution itself. Any new significant and long term project, idea, ideology, model, is adopted to substitute that of the Welfare State. In conclusion, this essay begins with an analysis of a crisis and ends underlining the necessity not to interrupt - in the transition phases, in particular the one we are currently experiencing - the constant historic flow of thoughts, ideas, meanings, which avoid the lack of existential, cultural, social or political sense.
Keywords: Welfare state, social project, capitalism