Ideational Leadership in German Welfare State Reform: How Politicians and Policy Ideas Transform Resilient Institutions (Amsterdam University Press - Changing Welfare States Series)

An important contribution to the debates surrounding the evolution of the European welfare state model, this volume investigates the role that “ideational leadership” has played in the passing of structural reforms in the change-resistant German welfare state. Based on in-depth case studies of individual reforms in health care, pensions, and unemployment insurance since the early 1990s, Stiller illuminates the ways in which Germany has made the transition from its Bismarckian past to a hybrid welfare state. The author of this innovative study argues that key politicians and their policy ideas, through "ideational leadership", have played an important role in the passing of structural reforms in the change-resistant German welfare state. This argument is based on in-depth case studies of individual reforms in health care, pensions and unemployment insurance since the early 1990s as well as a concise analysis of recent changes in family policy. Stiller concludes that Germany, traditionally a Bismarckian welfare state, has embarked on a path of 'hybridisation' that confronts German politics with growing societal divisions. This thought-provoking title is highly recommended for policymakers, scholars and students interested in the past and future reforms of the German welfare state, leadership, and the role of ideas in policymaking. Hoe worden ingrijpende hervormingen in de alom als weerbarstig beschouwde Duitse welvaartsstaat doorgevoerd? Dit boek betoogt dat het 'ideeëngerichte leiderschap' van vooraanstaande politici in belangrijke mate invloed heeft uitgeoefend op de institutionele veranderingen in het sociaal beleid. Sabina Stiller baseert haar bevindingen op diepgaande case studies van afzonderlijke hervormingen in de gezondheidszorg, pensioenen en werkloosheidsverzekering sinds het begin van de jaren '90 van de vorige eeuw. De auteur biedt een langetermijnperspectief op beleidshervormingen binnen deze gebieden, maar ook op gezinsbeleid waar recentelijk aanzienlijke hervormingen hebben plaatsgevonden. Ideational Leadership in German Welfare State Reform concludeert dat deze 'Bismarckiaanse' verzorgingsstaat zich op een pad van 'hybridisering' bevindt, die de Duitse politiek confronteert met groeiende sociale ongelijkheid. Dit boek is onmisbaar voor studenten, academici en mensen die geïnteresseerd zijn in de rol van beleidsideeën, leiderschap en de recente hervormingen van de Duitse welvaartsstaat The Author Of This Innovative Study Argues That Key Politicians And Their Policy Ideas, Through Ideational Leadership, Have Played An Important Role In The Passing Of Structural Reforms In The Change-resistant German Welfare State. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1.1.sources Of Welfare State Persistence -- 1.2.major Welfare State Reforms Do Occur -- 1.3.ideational Leadership And Structural Reforms -- 1.4.structure Of The Book -- 2.1.situating Il Among Reform Explanations -- 2.2.contributions From The Leadership Literature -- 2.3.contributions From The Ideational Literature -- 2.4.il As A Joint Concept -- 2.5.aspects, Mechanisms And Effects Of Il -- 2.6.il And Theorizing On Gradual Institutional Change -- 2.7.conclusion -- 3.1.germany As Prototype Of The Bismarckian Welfare State -- 3.2.sources Of Resilience: Political Institutions And Policy Legacies -- 3.3.how Have German Governments Responded To Pressures? -- 3.4.general Patterns Of Change In Major Programmes -- 3.5.conclusion -- 4.1.a Sketch Of Statutory Health Insurance In The Early 199os -- 4.2.the 1992 Structural Health Care Reform Act -- 4.3.seehofer's Role: A Minister 'taking On The Sharks' -- 4.4.the 1997 Health Care Reorganization Acts -- Contents Note Continued: 4.5.the Role Of Minister Seehofer: Fighting Against The Tide -- 4.6.conclusion -- 5.1.the Reform Process: Chronology, Actors And Policy Positions -- 5.2.tracing Ideational Leadership -- 5.3.assessing The Role Of Ideational Leadership -- 5.4.conclusion -- 6.1.the Reform Process: Chronology, Actors And Policy Positions -- 6.2.tracing Ideational Leadership -- 6.3.assessing The Role Of Il -- 6.4.conclusion -- 7.1.family Policy: From Familialism Towards Reconciliating Work And Family Life -- 7.2.transforming Bismarckian Principles -- 7.3.towards A New Hybrid Welfare State Edifice. Sabina Stiller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Table of Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 8 1. Introduction......Page 10 2. Ideational Leadership: Key to Overcoming Welfare State Resistance to Change......Page 22 3. A Bird’s-Eye View of the German Welfare State......Page 46 4. Transformation of Health Care Policy? The Legacy of Minister Seehofer......Page 76 5. Transforming Public Pensions: the Riester Pension Reform......Page 112 6. Transforming Unemployment Policy: The Hartz IV Reform......Page 146 7. Conclusion......Page 182 List of Abbreviations......Page 202 List of Interviewees......Page 204 Notes......Page 206 Bibliography......Page 236 Index......Page 250