Benedikt Bender and Bernhard Ebbinghaus summarize theoretical approaches (e.g. Power Resource, Corporatism, VoC, Insider/Outsider, & Growth Models) and they discuss the influence of these theories on labour relations & social policy. They categorize different forms of collective bargaining and the negotiation of working conditions (self-regulation) for employer associations & unions. Furthermore, examine to what extent these organisations are integrated into round table policy discussions.
The authors confirm the positive correlation between the level of union membership & collective bargaining coverage. The data shows that both indicators remains still high in Northern Europe (Sweden, Finland, Denmark) whilst they are moderately high in continental Europe (Germany, France) & some southern EU countries, & low in pluralistic market economies (the USA & the UK).
Figure: Union density and bargaining coverage, OECD, 1995 and 2019
Bender and Ebbinghaus also discuss the influence of crises such as the financial market crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, energy & inflation crises. The inclusion of unions and employer associations in round table discussions can be seen as a reaction to times of difficulty, constituting greater involvement in crisis management. There was also increased strike action, with workers and unions making strong demands for higher wages to compensate for crisis-induced inflation.
The last section describes social policy reforms and reform coalitions. Despite neo-liberal tendencies during the 90s and early 2000s, there have been areas of expansion within welfare state policy in the last 15 to 20 years, in particular for social investments. The authors also discuss recent research findings demonstrating a stronger consensus between unions and employer associations with regard to social investments.
The last section describes social policy reforms and reform coalitions. Despite neo-liberal tendencies during the 90s and early 2000s, there have been areas of expansion within welfare state policy in the last 15 to 20 years, in particular for social investments. The authors also discuss recent research findings demonstrating a stronger consensus between unions and employer associations with regard to social investments.
In addition to this discussion see one of the latest articles published by Benedikt Bender doi.org/10.1017/S0047279422000873
ZSR 2024; 70(2):145-172
Benedikt Bender und Laura Malsch
Political Conflict within Social Policy between 2017–2021 in Germany. A Content Analysis of Parliamentary Speeches and Press Releases.
From Journal of Social Policy Researchhttps://doi.org/10.1515/zsr-2023-0019
Abstract The study extends research on welfare state reform amongst political parties, unions and employer associations. We show that social compensation measures reflect traditional political and class-based divides (right vs. left and union vs. employer). By contrast, social investments receive cross-class support with the exception of the right-wing populist party (AfD), which opposes e. g., equal opportunities for women at work. The results are based on a systematic content analysis of the minutes of 21 parliamentary plenary sessions and 323 press releases (2017–2021). Two implications emerge from the study. Firstly, the importance of the theoretical distinction between social compensation and social investments within social policy. Secondly, we demonstrate evidence of broad support for social investment policies despite different motivations amongst the actors. This consensus helps to explain the recent expansion of social investments in Germany and leads us to expect that further social investment reforms are likely in the near future.
Short summary
Bender, Benedikt and Malsch, Laura (2024): Politische Konflikte in der Sozialpolitik zwischen 2017–2021 in Deutschland: Eine Inhaltsanalyse von Plenardokumenten und Pressemitteilungen. Zeitschrift für Sozialreform, 70, 2, 145-172. https://doi.org/10.1515/zsr-2023-0019
Bender, Benedikt and Malsch, Laura (2024): Politische Konflikte in der Sozialpolitik zwischen 2017–2021 in Deutschland: Eine Inhaltsanalyse von Plenardokumenten und Pressemitteilungen. Zeitschrift für Sozialreform, 70, 2, 145-172. https://doi.org/10.1515/zsr-2023-0019
Introduction
The conflict and different attitudes of the German
government coalition can be followed almost daily in the media. However,
divergent attitudes amongst liberal, social democratic and green
parties are not new. They were the basis for welfare state expansion (in
particular, de-commodification measures) after WWII against the
backdrop of ongoing class conflict. Welfare state expansion has rapidly
changed its focus towards social investments, and we argue in this
article that the change can be explained by cross class consensus based
on different motivational perspectives in the context of social
investment reforms.
Social Policy Reforms
We classified social compensation reforms in relation to de-commodification. There are four levels: (1) unemployment benefits, (2) minimum child-care allowance (against poverty) (3) minimum pension scheme (against poverty in old age) (4) other social benefits. Here we expect unreconcilable class conflict between different actors. We classified social investment reforms in relation to the creation, mobilization, and preservation of human capital: (1) child care service (2) incentives for female employment, (3) gender equality at work, (4) active labor market policies. Here we expect cross-class alliances since these reforms are compatible with the different motivational perspectives amongst actors.
We classified social compensation reforms in relation to de-commodification. There are four levels: (1) unemployment benefits, (2) minimum child-care allowance (against poverty) (3) minimum pension scheme (against poverty in old age) (4) other social benefits. Here we expect unreconcilable class conflict between different actors. We classified social investment reforms in relation to the creation, mobilization, and preservation of human capital: (1) child care service (2) incentives for female employment, (3) gender equality at work, (4) active labor market policies. Here we expect cross-class alliances since these reforms are compatible with the different motivational perspectives amongst actors.
Case Selection, Method and Data
We selected Germany because it is a late comer in the expansion of social investments. However, the fast shift towards more social investment in the last 15 years is unique within Europe. We argue that this is rooted in cross-class consensus for social investment reforms despite motivational differences. We use systematic content analysis of the minutes of 21 parliamentary plenary sessions and 323 press releases (2017-2021). All political parties were represented in the German Bundestag, the national trade union organization (DGB) as well as the national employer association (BDA).
Results
As expected, we show classic conflict between left and right, and between labour and capital regarding social compensation. Left-wing actors (Linke, SPD, Grüne) support the expansion of social compensations, whilst conservative (CDU/CSU), liberal (FDP) and right-wing populist (AfD) parties oppose them. For social compensation there is no cross-class consensus because different motivations lead to conflicting positions on social policy.
As expected, we show classic conflict between left and right, and between labour and capital regarding social compensation. Left-wing actors (Linke, SPD, Grüne) support the expansion of social compensations, whilst conservative (CDU/CSU), liberal (FDP) and right-wing populist (AfD) parties oppose them. For social compensation there is no cross-class consensus because different motivations lead to conflicting positions on social policy.
By contrast, there is indeed clear cross-class consensus for social investments among left wing, conservative and liberal parties with just one exception: The right wing populist party (AfD) is the only part to oppose gender equality opportunities for women at work.
For example: Cross-class consensus exists amongst actors regarding
childcare services. Left-wing actors support child care services in
order to create equal opportunities for women in the labour market. For
liberals and conservatives, the main motivation to address the shortage
of skilled workers in the workforce by relieving mothers of childcare
responsibilities. This shows that consensus is possible when different motivations still lead to overlapping interests.
Conclusion and Outlook
To understand social policy positions, we need to distinguish between social compensation and investment, since different patterns of conflict and overlapping interests are possible. There is more potential for overlapping interests amongst actors with regard to social investment measures. This leads us to expect an expansion of such reforms in the near future. Due to new fiscal constraints in an increasingly crisis-ridden world, government need to set clear priorities for social policy reform and ensure that all actors are motivated to support them.
To understand social policy positions, we need to distinguish between social compensation and investment, since different patterns of conflict and overlapping interests are possible. There is more potential for overlapping interests amongst actors with regard to social investment measures. This leads us to expect an expansion of such reforms in the near future. Due to new fiscal constraints in an increasingly crisis-ridden world, government need to set clear priorities for social policy reform and ensure that all actors are motivated to support them.
06.12.2023 17:53
E LA NAVE VA - Book on the Vigoni workshop published
In view of the frequently stated "polycrisis", it seems that not only Italy and Italy and Germany themselves seem to be in crisis, but also their relationship to each other. Indeed, questions of economic and economic and financial policy as well as international migration are increasinglleading to disgruntlement in German-Italian relations, while whereas solidarity prevailed during the Covid crisis. And the ship is still at sea - e la nave va! But where the journey will take us and whether the ship is seaworthy, an international group of scientists group of scientists from Italy and Germany discussed in the fall of 2021, including a including a largergroup from our professorship including Professor Wagemann as co-organizer of the workshop in close collaboration with Villa Vigoni. The various contributions, especially from young academics, have now been published in book form published in book form, under the editorship of Claudius Wagemann and his colleagues Ton Notermans, Simona Piattoni and Luca Verzichelli. Frankfurt contributions are by Lukas Brenner, Nikolaus Freimuth, Alexander Mathewes, Mohamed Salhi and Nils Sartorius.
15.11.2023 14:08
More Methods
Introduction to the methods of empirical social research
This semester, the introductory methods course is once again filling two lecture halls every week. Our team of tutors and organizational support has been correspondingly large in parts for several semesters, with George Ajouri, Anna Geyer, Christopher Hain, Mica Himmeldirk, Jonathan Schaffert, Jim Stegmann and, last but not least, Claudius Wagemann joining us for the first time
"Methodentreff" for further exchang
After we have already tested other formats in addition to the lecture in the online semesters, the Methodentreff will stand on its own two feet from this semester onwards.
Anyone who would like to exchange ideas with like-minded friends of methods is cordially invited. We recently met for the second monthly meeting and talked to interested students about our ideas on framing and approaches to research. We are excited to see how the still somewhat experimental evening meetings develop.
If you are interested, have any suggestions or ideas, please send a short email to brinck@soz.uni-frankfurt.de
This semester, the introductory methods course is once again filling two lecture halls every week. Our team of tutors and organizational support has been correspondingly large in parts for several semesters, with George Ajouri, Anna Geyer, Christopher Hain, Mica Himmeldirk, Jonathan Schaffert, Jim Stegmann and, last but not least, Claudius Wagemann joining us for the first time
"Methodentreff" for further exchang
After we have already tested other formats in addition to the lecture in the online semesters, the Methodentreff will stand on its own two feet from this semester onwards.
Anyone who would like to exchange ideas with like-minded friends of methods is cordially invited. We recently met for the second monthly meeting and talked to interested students about our ideas on framing and approaches to research. We are excited to see how the still somewhat experimental evening meetings develop.
If you are interested, have any suggestions or ideas, please send a short email to brinck@soz.uni-frankfurt.de
01.10.2023 10:00
New Semester. New Team.
We welcome 4 student employees to our team for the new semester: Maria Halloran, Jonathan Schaffert, Jim Stegmann and Alessandro-Daniel Tedesco. Mica Himmeldirk is also returning to us.
Maria Halloran is working on the DFG project "Smart Authoritarianism? Comparing the Internet Strategies of Authoritarian Regimes" and is a tutor for the course "Introduction to Comparative Democracy" Jonathan Schaffert is responsible for the communication and coordination of the students of our introductory course "Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung". Mica Himmeldirk and Jim Stegmann each give two tutorials in the same course. Alessandro-Daniel Tedesco takes on various tasks in our research projects and the organization of our activities.
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