Grand opening

On 8 May 2014, the Graduate School "Welfare State and Interest Organizations", co-financed by the Hans Böckler Foundation, was officially opened at the University of Kassel. Professor Friedbert W. Rüb (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) gave the keynote speech on the exciting topic "Who owns the welfare state? The social in the conflict of particular interests". Rüb not only addressed the basic characteristics of the relationship between the German welfare state and interest groups, but also outlined the historical genesis of this relationship. He then illustrated the changing influence of interest organizations under the new conditions and challenges of the modern welfare state.

The second part of the opening was a panel discussion. Barbara Heuerding (Diakonie Hessen), Eckehard Linnemann (IG BCE) and Dr. Joachim Rock (Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband), as representatives of interest groups, discussed the influence of interest groups in the face of new challenges with Malte Ristau-Winkler (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) and Prof. Felix Welti (University of Kassel).

At the end of the opening ceremony, the scholarship holders and associated doctoral candidates presented their doctoral projects as posters and discussed them with the guests. Within the framework of the research group, eight doctoral students will deal with the relationship between the welfare state and interest groups. The research group structure offers doctoral candidates the opportunity to engage in intensive exchange and benefit from each other's discourse.