Excursus: The Social Code II: Continuity or Breach in German Social Policy?

Abstract

This article gives a historic review of social policy, which, in the two-facedness of welfare with exclusion, inclusion, accommodation and control, support and quid pro quo principles, appears 'remarkably structurally continuous', and then turns to the question if the shift of focal points of social policy from basic income support to 'activation' is indeed a fundamental paradigm shift or a continuous, incremental kind of change. The author concludes that the change from a supporting to an activating welfare state has 'hardly a paradigmatic' effect. The paradigm of the 'activatable' subject in need of support has its limitations with regard to a lot of people in need who do not conform to certain conceptions of normality. Such members of society are subject to the protection of the welfare state principle none the less. Therefore, the author stipulates that German 'activation' policy with its altered normative requirements towards people in need must address this fact if it is not to be blamed for the subcutaneous persistence of a tradition of 'policing' for the poor, a regress into 'punitive paternalism', or the regaining of social control through employment. (IAB)

Cite article

Promberger, M. (2009): Exkurs: Das SGB II: Kontinuität oder Bruch in der deutschen Sozialpolitik? In: S. Koch, P. Kupka & J. Steinke (2009): Aktivierung, Erwerbstätigkeit und Teilhabe : vier Jahre Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende (IAB-Bibliothek, 315), p. 22-29. DOI:10.3278/300656w