In the burgeoning literature on welfare regimes and typologies, this comparative study offers a stimulating new perspective. Kaufmann, the doyen of the sociology of social policy in Germany, emphasizes norms, culture and history, in contrast to political economy approaches. Comparing Britain, Sweden, France and Germany, Kaufmann highlights the "idiosyncrasy" of each welfare state: countries are compared with regard to their state traditions and the relationship between state and civil society; their national "social questions"; their economic systems, including the unions and labour law; social security and redistribution; and their personal social services and education. The socio-cultural approach enables Kaufmann to show that not all modern states are welfare states. Some are just "capitalism" (the USA), others are "socialism" (the former Soviet Union). In this light, the (essentially North-West European) welfare state is portrayed as a third way between capitalism and socialism.
Series
Edition
Language
Place of publication
Publishing group
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
ISBN-13
978-3-642-44715-0 (9783642447150)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-642-22549-9
Schweitzer Classification
Franz-Xaver Kaufmann
is Professor emeritus for Social Policy and Sociology at the University of Bielefeld, Germany. He studied law, economics and sociology in Zurich, St. Gall and Paris. He is the doyen of the sociology of social policy in Germany and has been awarded honorary doctorates and prizes, including the Preller Prize for Social Policy and the Schader Prize for Applied Social Science.
Lutz Leisering,
the Editor,
is Professor for Social Policy and Director at the Institute for World Society studies, University of Bielefeld. He took his Ph.D. at the London School of Economics. He has published widely on European and global social policy.
L. Leisering: Introduction.- F.-X. Kaufmann: Variations of the Welfare State - Great Britain, France and Germany Between Capitalism and Socialism: Preliminary Methodological Remarks.- Theoretical Foundations.- Welfare State Development Between Capitalism and Socialism.- Variations on the Welfare State Principle in Europe.- And Germany?- Synoptic Concluding Remarks.
