Activating social policy between system imperative and self-determination : A study on the effects and adoption of Austrian's needs-based minimum benefit system

Abstract

"Taking Austrian's needs-based minimum benefit system as an example, the article examines the effects and the adoption of activating social policy. The contribution is based on a qualitative study using narrative interviews with both recipients of the needs-based minimum benefit and case managers, held between 2013-2015. We reconstruct 'activation' as normative requirement and institutionalized strategy that aims to shape attitudes and behaviour in order to construct marketable and employable subjects. In order to answer the question, whether and how subjects can be activated according to the socio-political aim of 'employability', we propose a typology of 'action activation', showing that, in general, most people are indeed 'active', though not activated through and according to the aims of 'employablity'. Our considerations are located on the intersections of research on poverty and unemployment, research on subjectivation and governementality studies." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

Cite article

Globisch, C. & Madlung, F. (2017): Aktivierende Sozialpolitik zwischen Systemimperativ und Eigensinn. Eine Untersuchung der Effekte und Aneignungen der Bedarfsorientierten Mindestsicherung in Österreich. In: Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie, Vol. 42, No. 4, p. 321-343. DOI:10.1007/s11614-017-0274-6