Outline - Social policy in comparison (copy 1)

Date

Subject

Question

Mandatory text(s)

19.10.06

Introduction.

Presentation of the topic / outline.

Introduction

Definition of terms:

• Social policy
• Welfare state
• Welfare state

Tasks of the welfare state

Schmidt, Manfred G.: Social policy in Germany. Historical development and international comparison. 3rd edition Wiesbaden 2005, pp. 11-17.

Alber, Jens and Behrend, Christina: Wohlfahrtstaat/Sozialstaat. In: Nohlen, Dieter (ed.): Kleines Wörterbuch der Politik. Munich 2001, pp. 580-588.

26.10.06

Comparative methods of political science

-What is comparative politics? What is its relationship to comparative government?

-How has comparison developed in political science? What are the central concepts of comparative politics?

-What are the basic principles of systems theory? Explain Gabriel Almond's model.

-What exactly is "neo-institutionalism"? How does it differ from systems theory / what does he criticize about it?

-What is meant by the thesis that there is a development from the perspective of constitutional comparison via comparative political systems research to neo-institutionalism?

-What are the central questions of each of the key areas of comparative politics presented in this article?

-What are the differences between parliamentary and presidential systems of government? What is the most important decision criterion according to Steffani?

-Which countries are "prime examples" of each type?

Birle, Peter/Wagner, Christian: Comparative Political Science: Analysis and Comparison of Political Systems. In: Mols, Manfred/ Lauth, Hans-Joachim/Wagner, Christian (eds.): Politikwissenschaft. An introduction. Paderborn 2003, pp.102-135.

Steffanie, Winfried: On the distinction between parliamentary and presidential systems of government. In: Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen (ZParl) 3/83, pp. 390-401.

02.11.06

Transfer to the comparison of welfare states

-What are the central approaches to comparing welfare states? What is their respective focus? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the individual approaches?

-How can the development of approaches to the comparison of welfare states be categorized in the development of comparative government in general?

-What is meant by the term "path dependency"? How does this phenomenon affect possible reform processes?

-What theses are put forward on the effects of globalization / (economic) European integration?

-What are the differences between Schmid's and Siegel's approaches?

-What is meant by the theory of institutional change?

-What are the conditions and consequences of institutional change?

-What role does North's efficiency argument play in institutional change?

Siegel, Nico: Social policy. In: Lauth, Hans-Joachim (ed.): Comparative Government. An introduction. Wiesbaden 2002, pp.345-365.

Schmid, Josef: Comparative welfare state research. In: Berg-Schloser, Dirk / Müller-Rommel, Ferdinand (eds.): Comparative Political Science. 4th edition Opladen 2003, pp. 229-260.

North, Douglass C.: Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Tübingen 1992, chapters 1, 9 and 11.

09.11.06

Comparison of the emergence and development of welfare states

-Comparison of the different founding constellations of national welfare systems

-How can it be explained that welfare systems developed first in autocratic states?

-How can the different histories of the individual social security systems in a country be explained?

-What are the advantages and disadvantages of the pioneer states?

-What are the advantages and disadvantages of the latecomer states?

Schmidt, Manfred G.: Social policy in Germany. Historical development and international comparison. 3rd edition Wiesbaden 2005, pp. 181-197.

16.11.06

Classification of welfare statesinto types: Esping Andersen

-What is meant by an "ideal type"?

-Why does Esping-Andersen consider a "respecification" of previous concepts and explanatory patterns of the emergence and types of welfare states to be necessary?

-What three central analysis criteria does Esping-Andersen use to classify a welfare state?

-What are the three types of welfare state according to Esping-Andersen and what are their main characteristics?

-According to Esping-Andersen, what are the causes for the formation of welfare states?

-Give the different points of criticism (methodological and substantive) of Esping-Andersen's typology.

-What suggestions for change / additions to Esping-Andersen's model are there?

-What other typification concepts are there?

Excerpt on the ideal types from Max Weber, "Die Objektivität sozialwissenschaftlicher und sozialpolitischer Erkenntnis".

Esping-Andersen, Gosta: The three worlds of welfare capitalism. On the political economy of the welfare state (German translation). In: Lessenich, Stephan/Ostner, Ilona (eds.): Welten des Wohlfahrtskapitalismus. The welfare state in comparative perspective. Frankfurt/<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place> 1998, pp: 19-58.

Schmidt, Manfred G.: Social policy in Germany. Historical development and international comparison. 3rd edition Wiesbaden 2005, pp. 217-232.

Obinger, Herbert and Wagschal, Uwe: Three worlds of the welfare state? A cluster-analytical review of Esping-Andersen's stratification concept. In: Lessenich, Stephan/Ostner, Ilona (eds.): Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. The welfare state in comparative perspective. Frankfurt/New York 1998, pp. 109-136.

23.11.06

Policy learning

-What are the basic goals of learning theory?

-What is meant by "individual actors" and what is meant by "collective actors"?

-What are the differences between simple, complex and reflective learning?

-How can "reflexive learning" be described as a concept of policy field analysis?

-What is the relationship between policy learning and reform processes? To what extent is policy learning a prerequisite for reform processes?

Bandelow, Nils S.: Policy learning and political change. In: Schubert, Klaus /Bandelow, Nils C. (Eds.): Textbook of Policy Field Analysis. Munich/Vienna 2003, pp.289-334.

30.11.07

Benchmarking, International Reform Monitor

(Bertelsmann Foundation), OMK

-How does the "European Innovation Scoreboard" go about identifying the strengths and weaknesses of individual countries? How does the "Benchmarking Working Group", how does the "International Reform Monitor"?

-What does "benchmarking" mean?

-What are the objectives of the OMC? How does it differ from other EU instruments, e.g. the Stability and Growth Pact?

-How does Germany's economic position compare internationally? What are its strengths and weaknesses?

-What are the common challenges in (almost) all countries?

-What are the problems with the transferability of policy models and thus with policy learning?

Schmid, Josef: Economic and social policy: learning and non-learning from the neighbors. In: ApuZ B 18/19 (2003), pp. 32-38.

Eichhorst, Werner: "Benchmarking Germany" - Where do we stand in international comparison? In: APuZ B 46/47 (2002), pp. 22-31.

Thode, Eric: International Reform Monitor - What can we learn from others? In: ApuZ B46/47 (2002), pp. 13-21.

Schroeder, Wolfgang: National or European social policy? The influence of the EU on the transformation of welfare states through the Open Method of Coordination. In: SOWI 3(2003), pp. 55-65.

Individual country observations

07.12.06

14.12.06

Germany

-Why was Germany, of all countries, a "pioneer" of social policy?

-What are the basic characteristics of German social policy?

-According to Esping-Andersen, which type can Germany be classified as?

-How has the welfare state developed from its beginnings in the 1880s to the present day (key stages)?

-To what extent does the pension reform of 1957 represent a particular turning point?

-How has the welfare state changed in recent decades? Is the Esping-Andersen classification still tenable today?

-What problems does the welfare state face today? What reform options are there / what is currently being discussed?

-Are there recognizable role models on which reform efforts in Germany are based?

-Why are learning processes and reforms particularly difficult to implement in Germany?

Schmidt, Manfred G.: Social policy in Germany. Historical development and international comparison. 3rd edition Wiesbaden 2005, pp. 73-112.

Kohl, Jürgen: Der Sozialstaat: Die deutsche Version des Wohlfahrtsstaats - Überlegungen zu einer typologischen Verortung. In: Leibfried, Stephan and Wagschal, Uwe (eds.): Der deutsche Sozialstaat. Balances, Reforms, Perspectives. Frankfurt a.M./New York 2000, pp.115-152.

Schmidt, Manfred G.: Reforms of social policy in Germany: Lessons from historical and international comparison. In: Leibfried, Stephan and Wagschal, Uwe (eds.): Der deutsche Sozialstaat. Balances, Reforms, Perspectives. Frankfurt a.M./New York 2000, pp. 153-170.

21.12.06

Switzerland

-What are the main features of the political system?

-How did the welfare state system develop? Which type does it fall into according to Esping-Andersen?

-What changes has the welfare state system undergone in recent decades?

-Does the structure of the political system enable or block reforms of the welfare state?

-To what extent can the "Swiss model" be a model for Germany?

Linder, Wolf: The Swiss political system. In: Ismayr, Wolfgang (ed.): Die politischen Systeme Westeuropas. 3rd edition, Opladen 2003, pp.487-520.

Obinger, Herbert: Political institutions and social policy in Switzerland. The influence of subsidiary governments on the structure and development dynamics of the Swiss welfare state. Frankfurt a.M. et al. 1998. pp. 64-90 and 207-239.

11.01.07

Netherlands

-What are the main features of the political system?

-How did the welfare state system develop? Which type according to Esping-Andersen can it be classified as?

-What changes has the welfare state system undergone in recent decades?

-Does the structure of the political system enable or block reforms of the welfare state?

-To what extent can the "Dutch model" be a model for Germany?

Lepszy, Norbert: The Dutch political system. In: Ismayr, Wolfgang (ed.): Die politischen Systeme Westeuropas. 3rd edition, Opladen 2003, pp.349-388.

Visser, Jelle and Hemerijck, Anton: The pragmatic adaptation of the Dutch welfare state - a lesson? In: Leibfried, Stephan and Wagschal, Uwe (eds.): Der deutsche Sozialstaat. Balances, reforms, perspectives. Frankfurt a.M./New York 2000, pp.452-473.

18.01.07

Sweden

Guest speaker

-What are the main features of the political system?

-How did the welfare state system develop? In which type according to Esping-Andersen can it be classified?

-What changes has the welfare state system undergone in recent decades?

-Does the structure of the political system enable or block reforms of the welfare state?

-To what extent can the "Swedish model" be a model for Germany?

Jahn, Detlef: The Swedish political system. In: Ismayr, Wolfgang (ed.): Die politischen Systeme Westeuropas. 3rd edition, Opladen 2003, pp.93-130.

Schmid, Josef: Sweden: The prototype of the modern welfare state in transition." In: Ders: Welfare States in Comparison. 2nd edition Opladen 2002, pp.203-222.

25.01.07

Comparison of the findings

-What are the differences between the processes of change in the individual welfare states?

-Which conditions have proven to be particularly favorable for reform processes?

-Who is most likely to act as a role model?

-What is the significance of incrementalism as a reform perspective?

-How does the German case differ from other countries?

-Are there convergences between the countries in recent years?

Hacker, Jacob S.: Review Article: Dismantling the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Health</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Care</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>? Political Institutions, Public Policies and then Comparative Politics of Health Care. In: B.J.Pol.S. 34/2004, pp.693-724.

01.02.07

CLAUSE

08.02.07

Summary

Summary, evaluation, balance sheet