Regulating the Social : The Welfare State and Local Politics in Imperial Germany

Why does the welfare state develop so unevenly across countries, regions, and localities? What accounts for the exclusions and disciplinary features of social programs? How are elite and popular conceptions of social reality related to welfare policies? George Steinmetz approaches these and other issues by exploring the complex origins and development of local and national social policies in nineteenth-century Germany. Generally regarded as the birthplace of the modern welfare state, Germany experimented with a wide variety of social programs before 1914, including the national social insurance legislation of the 1880s, the "Elberfeld" system of poor relief, protocorporatist policies, and modern forms of social work. Imperial Germany offers a particularly useful context in which to compare different programs at various levels of government. Looking at changes in welfare policy over the course of the nineteenth century, differences between state and municipal interventions, and intercity variations in policy, Steinmetz develops an account that focuses on the specific constraints on local and national policymakers and the different ways of imagining the "social question." Whereas certain aspects of the pre-1914 welfare state reinforced social divisions and even foreshadowed aspects of the Nazi regime, other dimensions actually helped to relieve sickness, poverty, and unemployment. Steinmetz explores the conditions that led to both the positive and the objectionable features of social policy. The explanation draws on statist, Marxist, and social democratic perspectives and on theories of gender and culture. Why Does The Welfare State Develop So Unevenly Across Countries, Regions, And Localities? What Accounts For The Exclusions And Disciplinary Features Of Social Programs? Why Is Social Spending Generous In Some Places And Miserly In Others? How Are Elite And Popular Conceptions Of Social Reality Related To Welfare Policies? George Steinmetz Approaches These And Other Issues By Exploring The Complex Origins And Development Of Local And National Social Policies In Nineteenth-century Germany. Generally Regarded As The Birthplace Of The Modern Welfare State, Germany Experimented With A Wide Variety Of Social Programs Before 1914, Including The National Social Insurance Legislation Of The 1880s, The Elberfeld System Of Poor Relief, Protocorporatist Policies, And Modern Forms Of Social Work. Looking At Changes In Welfare Policy Over The Course Of The Nineteenth Century, Differences Between State And Municipal Interventions, And Intercity Variations In Policy, Steinmetz Develops An Account That Focuses On The Specific Constraints On Local And National Policymakers And The Different Ways Of Imagining The Social Question. Whereas Certain Aspects Of The Pre-1914 Welfare State Reinforced Social Divisions And Even Foreshadowed Aspects Of The Nazi Regime, Other Dimensions Actually Helped To Relieve Sickness, Poverty, And Unemployment. Steinmetz Explores The Conditions That Led To Both The Positive And The Objectionable Features Of Social Policy. The Explanation Draws On Statist, Marxist, And Social Democratic Perspectives, Theories Of Gender And Culture, And The Work Of Foucault, Bourdieu, And Tilly. Map Of The German Empire, 1871-1914 -- Ch. 1. Social Theory And The German Welfare State -- Ch. 2. Toward An Explanation Of The Welfare State In Nineteenth-century Germany -- Ch. 3. The Rise Of The Social Question And Social Policy In Nineteenth-century Germany -- Ch. 4. The Central State In Imperial Germany -- Ch. 5. The Prussian-german Welfare State: Social Policy At The Central Level -- Ch. 6. Municipal Politics And The Local Regulation Of The Social Until The 1890s: Poor Relief And Worker Policy -- Ch. 7. Change In Municipal Politics And The Regulation Of The Social After The 1890s: Scientific Social Work And Proto-corporatism -- Ch. 8. Conclusion -- Appendix: Table Of Complete Regression Models For Poor-relief Spending And Unemployment Insurance: German Cities. George Steinmetz. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [309]-367) And Index. 000_FrontMatter......Page 1 001_Chapter1......Page 16 002_Chapter2......Page 58 003_Chapter3......Page 72 004_Chapter4......Page 88 005_Chapter5......Page 125 006_Chapter6......Page 164 007_Chapter7......Page 205 008_Chapter8......Page 232 009_BackMatter......Page 238