Dr. Florian Steinmüller

This doctoral thesis analyzes the transformation of the German and French welfare states since the 1990s by examining the importance of actor constellations. The focus is on the interrelation between state, trade unions and employer associations in the fields of old-age and unemployment insurance.

Since the 1990s, reform measures have been implemented to a different extent in Germany and France. Whereas social expenditure and welfare generosity was generally maintained in France, the German welfare state has undergone profound change.

The aim of this doctoral thesis is to investigate these different reform patterns by analyzing the actor constellations of state, trade unions and employer associations. I seek to address the following research question: What is the importance of changes of actor constellations between state, trade unions and employer associations in the transformation of the German and French welfare states since the 1990s? To examine this research question, I focus on the interrelation between parties, ministries and associations, I explore the competition within the party system and I analyze the relationship in the Executive. Previous studies in the field of welfare state research have mostly investigated one actor constellation. However, too little attention has been paid to the interrelation of different actor constellations. This doctoral thesis aims at contributing to this area of research by providing an encompassing analysis of several actor constellations in the transformation of the German and French welfare states.

For the purpose of this research, I adopt document analysis and expert interview methods.

In my dissertation, I examine the significance of changing actor constellations for the development of the welfare state in Germany and France since the 1990s. The comparative analysis focuses on the relationships between actors at the state and association level as well as the policy fields of pension and unemployment insurance.

The starting point of my study is the different development of the German and French welfare states since the 1990s. The expansion and stabilization of social spending and social rights in France contrasts with a profound change in the German welfare state.

The aim of the dissertation is to explain the different reform dynamics of the two countries on the basis of the constellation of actors between the state, trade unions and employers' associations. The central question is therefore: What significance do changes in the constellations of actors between the state, trade unions and employers' associations have in the different transformations of the German and French welfare states since the 1990s?

Of particular relevance here are the relationship patterns between parties, ministries and associations, the competitive constellations within the party systems and the constellations at the executive level. While the existing literature in the field of actor-centered welfare state research usually only analyzes one of these constellations, in my work I examine different actor constellations and thus aim for a more comprehensive actor-based explanation of welfare state transformation processes.

The analysis of the actor constellations is based on a combination of document analysis and expert interviews and their content analysis.

"Transformation of the Welfare State in Germany and France. A comparative analysis of the actor constellations between the state, trade unions and employers' associations"

Florian Steinmüller is doing his doctorate at the Research Training Group "Welfare State and Interest Organizations". Link to the homepage

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since 10/2014

Doctoral candidate in the research training group "Welfare State and Interest Organizations", University of Kassel

Doctoral scholarship holder of the Hans Böckler Foundation

Dissertation topic: Transformation of the welfare state in Germany and France. A comparative analysis of the actor constellations between the state, trade unions and employers' organizations

2010 - 2014

Master's degree in European Studies, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) and Institut d'Études Politiques de Lille

2006 - 2010

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Philipps University Marburg

Worked in various scientific and political institutionsduring my studies (e.g.Centre international de formation européenne CIFE, 2012; German Bundestag, 2011; German Embassy Kampala, 2010; German Development Service DED, 2009; Centro de Derechos Humanos y Ambiente CEDHA, 2008)