Interaction in the Shadow of Hierarchy: Coercion and Cooperation in Jobcenters

Abstract

"Employees of the public employment service and jobseekers interact within the counselling and placement in jobcentres. The counselling and placement aims at getting jobseekers into employment and, thereby, overcoming their dependency. The interaction is characterised by both coercion and cooperation. This article examines the relationship between coercion and cooperation within the counselling and placement of jobseekers. It is a relationship that is discussed in political debates and subject of scientific studies. The analysis uses the framework of actor-centred institutionalism that analytically separates institutional context, actor constellation and mode of interaction. It is shown that actor constellation is of particular relevance to the relationship between coercion and cooperation. Furthermore, the interaction within the counselling and placement may typically be described as self-coordination in the shadow of hierarchy" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © De Gruyter) ((en))

Cite article

Bähr, H. (2023): Interaktion im Schatten der Hierarchie: Zwang und Zusammenarbeit in Jobcentern. In: Zeitschrift für Sozialreform, Vol. 69, No. 3, p. 167-191. DOI:10.1515/zsr-2023-0004