The EU and the Domestic Politics of Welfare State Reforms: Europa, Europae (Work and Welfare in Europe)

This book focuses on the relationship between European integration, its outputs and national institutional and political settings. It explores the political mechanisms through which the EU plays a role in domestic social policy changes. Does European integration influence national social policies? What is the use of EU laws, orientations and guidelines? Based on a systematic comparison of ten national cases, including both old and new member states, representing all families of welfare regimes, this volume explores and specifies the mechanisms through which the EU plays a role in domestic social policy changes. It focuses on where, when and how national actors use the tools and resources offered by the process of European integration to support them in the national welfare reforms they are engaged in. The comprehensive research design and the systematic comparisons provide a unique opportunity to fully grasp the mechanisms of domestic welfare state change within the context of the European Union multilevel political system. This book proposes both a new step within the Europeanization and the welfare state literatures. It confirms the idea that Europe matters in a differential way since EU social policy will be selectively used by domestic political actors in accordance with their political preferences. It provides a clear explanation of why no EU-induced social policy change can occur without an overall support offered by key domestic decision-makers Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Introduction: The Usages of Europe in National Employment- friendly Welfare State Reforms....Pages 1-18 Social Europe in Action: The Evolution of EU Policies and Resources....Pages 19-47 Boasting the National Model: The EU and Welfare State Reforms in France....Pages 48-72 Learning or Teaching? Germany and Its Complex Historical Relationship with the EU....Pages 73-95 The Activation Turn in the Netherlands: ‘Home’-grown or Steered by Europe?....Pages 96-120 Usages of ‘Europe’ in Welfare Policies in Greece, 1981–2010....Pages 121-147 ‘Eppur si muoveva...’ The Italian Trajectory of Recent Welfare Reforms: From ‘Rescued by Europe’ to Euro-scepticism....Pages 148-174 A Compass or a Spear? The Partisan Usage of Europe in Portuguese Employment- friendly Reforms....Pages 175-200 EU and Czech Instrumentalism in Employment and Social Inclusion Strategy....Pages 201-229 Sweden: The Reluctant Rule Follower....Pages 230-253 Europeanization and Welfare State Change in the UK: Another Case of ‘Fog over the Channel’?....Pages 254-279 Social Security Reform in Turkey: Different Usages of Europe in Shaping the National Welfare Reform....Pages 280-315 Conclusion: Europa, Europae: The Many Faces of Social Europe....Pages 316-324 Back Matter....Pages 325-333