Search

Neben umfassenden Eindämmungsstrategien stellen sozial- und wirtschaftspolitische Maßnahmen einen zentralen Bestandteil der staatlichen Reaktionen auf die Corona-Pandemie dar. In Zeiten umfassender Krisen ist das politische Krisenmanagement gefordert, eine "überzeugende Erzählung" des zugrundeliegenden Problems und der gewählten Lösungen zu liefern. Die Policy-Forschung hat gezeigt, dass Narrativen und den darin enthaltenen sozialen Konstruktionen von (insbesondere: "verdienten" und "unverdienten") Zielgruppen bei der Reformkommunikation eine zentrale Rolle zukommt. Vor diesem Hintergrund analysiert der vorliegende Beitrag, welche Narrative in der Corona-Pandemie von politischen Entscheidungsträger*innen zur Begründung sozialpolitischer Reformen genutzt wurden. Analysiert werden dabei mit Deutschland und Österreich zwei traditionell konservative Wohlfahrtsstaaten sowie zwei sozialpolitische Felder (Arbeitsmarktpolitik, Familienpolitik). Die Narrativanalyse basiert auf einer systematischen Untersuchung der Regierungskommunikation auf Twitter während der "ersten Welle" der Corona-Pandemie. Next to encompassing containment strategies, social and economic policies have been crucial in national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. In such times of severe crisis, crisis management is challenged to communicate a '‘compelling story' of problems and chosen policy solutions. Policy research has shown that narratives - and their social constructions of (deserving and undeserving) target populations - play a key role in reform communication. Against this backdrop, this article analyses which policy narratives political decision-makers used to legitimise social policy reforms during the COVID-19 pandemic for two traditionally conservative welfare states (Germany, Austria) and two policy fields (labour market policy, family policy). It is based on a systematic analysis of political communication on Twitter during the pandemic’s ‘first wave’.

The literature has described trade unions’ positions towards both precarious workers and migrant workers as ambivalent. By studying an extreme case, the meat-processing industries in the United Kingdom and in Germany, we show how trade unions were decisive in both countries in bringing exploitative working conditions on the political agenda and in advancing policy change. However, the strategies through which trade unions contributed to this differed remarkably, highlighting different causal pathways in both countries. The British case can clearly be seen as an example of successful union revitalisation by relying on innovative strategies. In contrast, the German story exhibits a strong reliance on a more traditional approach to improving workers’ rights, which was only successful after employers were willing to improve working conditions in the sector as well. Our analysis shows that policy change can happen despite unfavourable conditions and weak actors, especially if these actors make strategic use of situational conditions.

ZusammenfassungWohlfahrtsstaaten gleichen ökonomische Ungleichheiten nicht nur aus: Sie schaffen diese auch, indem sie stratifizierend wirken und verschiedenen Bevölkerungsgruppen unterschiedliche soziale Rechte gewähren. Durch Reformen werden neue soziale Rechte geschaffen oder bestehende modifiziert; es werden Gruppen neue soziale Rechte gewährt oder soziale Rechte entzogen. Für die Legitimierung sozialpolitischer Reformen – und damit einhergehend: die Reduzierung oder Schaffung ökonomischer Ungleichheiten – spielen Narrative eine zentrale Rolle. Sie transportieren eine bestimmte und in der Regel vereinfachte Situationsbeschreibung, und zeichnen sich durch spezifische Strukturmerkmale aus. Von zentraler Bedeutung ist, wie dieZielgruppender sozialpolitischen Reformen in diesen Narrativen konstruiert werden. Insbesondere bauen entsprechende Konstruktionen auf einer Unterscheidung von „verdienten“ und „unverdienten“ Gruppen auf, die dementsprechend mit höherer/niedrigerer Wahrscheinlichkeit durch sozialpolitischen Aus- oder Rückbau adressiert werden. Der Beitrag untersucht, wie sozialpolitische Reformen in Zeiten akuter Krisen über Narrative kommuniziert werden, und wie die zentralen Zielgruppen in diesen Narrativen konstruiert werden. Mit der Kurzarbeit und dem Elterngeld werden dabei zwei Policies untersucht, die sowohl in der Finanzkrise 2008/2009 als auch in der Corona-Krise prominent wurden.

The advantage of building a pension system is not limited to the social security of older people, but can also serve other political, societal, or economic functions. This chapter examines such an interdependence of policy areas by illuminating the relationship between expansive social policy and the export strategy of developmental states, focusing on South Korea and Malaysia. In both countries, contribution-based pension systems—a social insurance scheme in South Korea, and a provident fund in Malaysia—have become a cornerstone of economic development. By accumulating large amounts of money within their pension systems, the governments of both countries have been able to use this money for economic investments within their generally export-oriented economies, thus demonstrating that social policy and international economic interdependence are mutually supportive.

This introductory chapter outlines a mechanism-based approach as a new way of explaining social policy. The chapter first introduces causal mechanisms as a concept and explores four strands of mechanism-based research in the social sciences: the methodology of qualitative research, generative mechanisms in critical realism, analytical sociology, and historical sociology and historical institutionalism. The chapter develops a process-oriented, actor-centred and modular conception of causal mechanisms, thereby distinguishing elementary causal mechanisms and complex causal mechanisms. It then showcases the benefits of a mechanism-based approach for social policy research. The key argument is that causal mechanisms enable explanations that can complement, expand, deepen, and possibly even correct analyses that rely on established social policy approaches. The chapter concludes with an overview of all chapters of the volume.

The chapter analyses and compares the development of two types of contribution-based pension systems in four countries, thereby contrasting Bismarckian pension systems (South Korea, Vietnam) with pension systems that rely on national provident funds (Sri Lanka, Malaysia). Although all countries are facing considerable problems in expanding effective coverage and providing a decent pension after retirement, they have undertaken considerable political efforts to maintain or even expand those systems. We explain this outcome through a modular and mechanism-based approach, highlight six complex causal mechanisms—the outcompeting mechanism, the gaining acceptance spiral mechanism, the evasion mechanism, the double benefit mechanism, the crisis management by going further mechanism, and the alarmed middle classes mechanism—and show when and how these mechanisms unfolded in the four countries.

The concluding chapter takes stock of the complex causal mechanisms that were identified in the chapters of the edited volume and presents a structured compilation of complex causal mechanisms that might be a first step of a more encompassing research agenda on mechanism-based analysis in social policy. The compilation is based on a combination of actor-centred and theory-based clustering. It distinguishes general mechanisms, which can occur in all fields of social policy (or even beyond), and policy-specific mechanisms, which are linked to specific social policies. Finally, the chapter summarises key strengths of the mechanism-based approach in social policy research and outlines potential future research avenues.

Building on a critical engagement with the diffusion literature, this article introduces a refined model of diffusion that sheds light on crucial but so far neglected aspects of the diffusion process. First, by introducing four analytically distinct constellations of diffusion, we highlight important differences between the participating units of a diffusion process. Therefore, the model also allows for analysing very early developments of social policy under the conditions of colonialism and relations between states of equal or different economic strength, and under conditions of continuing post-colonial ties. Second, we conceptualize diffusion as consisting of three stages which involve different actors from both units: the stage of perception and translation, the stage of cooperation and conflict and the stage of collective decision-making. Third, we argue that the dominant focus of diffusion research on the macro-level obscures that people, money and procedures are key promoters of diffusion. From this refined model of diffusion, it becomes possible to analyse diffusion processes in a more detailed way. We demonstrate the added value of our model by analysing the development of education policy in Chile and Argentina in the 19th century, and the establishment of project funding for social policy purposes under conditions of colonialism in the British Empire in the mid-20th century.

Over 30 years, several key frameworks and theories of the policy process have emerged which have guided a burgeoning empirical literature. A more recent development has been a growing interest in the application of a ‘causal mechanism’ perspective to policy studies. This article reviews selected theories of the policy process (Multiple Streams Approach, Advocacy Coalition Framework, Punctuated Equilibrium Theory, Narrative Framework Theory, and Institutional Analysis and Development Framework) and reports on an exploratory meta-analysis and synthesis to gauge the take-up of causal-mechanistic approaches. The findings suggest that there has been limited application of causal mechanisms and calls for more theoretical and empirical work on that aspect. Given the overlapping frameworks exploring different aspects of the policy process, further research informed by causal-mechanism approaches points to a new generation of inquiry across these and other policy process theoretical frameworks.

The Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) has ignited a remarkably active research community, one of its main contributions being distinct narrative elements-including settings, characters, and plots. Yet, while the plot constitutes a core element of narrativity, it has received less attention vis-a-vis other narrative components. Existing classifications of plots have been proven to possess a great ability to capture "universal" policy stories, but not the specific variations of different types of policies. This article presents a typology of plots by linking their universal and policy-specific themes, thereby theorizing from Lowi's seminal typology of regulatory, distributive, and redistributive policies. Empirically, it focuses on the political communication of Germany's policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy narratives were mined from Twitter and from governmental press conferences (March-June 2020). The qualitative NPF analysis demonstrates that the identified plots-restricting-to-control, liberating-to-promote, providing-to-promote, giving-to-give, and giving-to-promote-can grasp different regulatory, distributive, and redistributive policies as well as their variety.

This article seeks to understand how knowledge of the policy process, and especially of policy change, is generated. For three dominant approaches—punctuated equilibrium theory, incremental change theorizing, and institutional isomorphism theorizing—we ask where, by whom, and especially how these theoretical approaches have been applied in empirical studies. Answering these questions is relevant for synthesizing knowledge on policy change across such studies. For a stratified sample of 153 empirical articles, we find that the theories have mainly been applied for single-n or small-n studies at the national level, in western countries, and by scholars affiliated with western universities. We also find that the theoretical approaches are, generally, only partially and loosely operationalized. This limits the generic lessons we can draw from this body of empirical work.

Following the financial crisis, Bismarckian health systems underwent some major reforms. This article analyzes under which conditions major reforms occurred. To do so, it theoretically combines con...

Magnet schools focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as well as extracurricular programs in STEM support talented students and help increase their participation rates in those domains. We examined whether and the extent to which the learning and educational capital of male and female students ( N = 801) enrolled in high-achiever-track secondary schools in Germany with and without a STEM focus differed. We found both school and gender differences for some types of learning and educational capital but no interaction effect of type of school and gender. We also assessed the relationship between school status as a STEM magnet school, students’ gender, and students’ learning and educational capital, on the one hand, and registration for a 1-year extracurricular program in STEM, on the other hand. Students enrolled in high-achiever-track STEM magnet schools, as well as male students, were more likely to register for the extracurricular program. Some types of learning and educational capital also predicted registration in a regression analysis.

Narrative stories are crucial to policy change, as they decisively contribute to how policy problems and policies are defined. While this seems to apply for social policy in particular, narrative stories have remained under-researched and not systematically compared for this area. In this article, we theorise on narratives in social policy by focusing on how similarities and differences between narratives in old- and new-social-risks policy reforms can be conceptualised, taking into account expansion and retrenchment. To systematically link those types of social policy reform with narrative elements, we rely on stories of control and helplessness, as well as the deservingness or undeservingness associated with different target populations. Thereby, distinct types of social policy reform narratives are identified: stories of giving-to-give, giving-to-shape, taking-to-take, taking-to-control, and taking-out-of-helplessness. The article concludes with empirical illustrations of those narrative types, which stem from the case studies presented in this Special Issue.

Since the early 2000s, theorizing on incremental institutional change has made inroads in comparative historical analysis. In particular, the ideas, concepts, and theory introduced by Kathleen Thelen and her collaborators have been widely adopted by scholars. These scholars are not, however, univocally positive about the theory. Three main critiques have been plaguing the theory since its early days: the concepts it builds on lack clarity, the model of agency it uses is too static, and the theory lacks analytical power overall. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis method, this article presents a meta-analysis of the peer-reviewed empirical literature from 2005 to 2015 that applies this theory. It seeks to better understand the reach of the critiques expressed, as this may provide a starting point for improvement. It finds considerable quantitative support for the critiques, and uncovers an additional problematic issue: the tendency for concept stretching and concept proliferation by scholars seeking to overcome the shortcomings of the theory. Paradoxically, concept stretching and proliferation only further reduce the analytical power of the theory. The article concludes with suggestions for improvement of the development and application of the theory.

This chapter summarises the difficulties of defining the term "welfare state". It focuses on the theoretical discussion accompanying the so-called "established welfare states". The chapter examines and systematises different conceptualisations of the welfare state. It traces dominant trends and patterns in welfare state theorising. The chapter describes the historical development of welfare states, since definitions of the concept can only be understood in relation to the empirical phenomena to which they refer. The narrow definition of the welfare state focuses on the "traditional terrain of social amelioration", which refers primarily to "income transfer and social services". However, to which policy sectors the welfare state's activity in this narrow definition refers is highly controversial, can differ widely between national settings and depends on the researcher's theoretical perspective. The chapter refrains from a conclusive definition of the welfare state, and argues for a dynamic definition according to the context.

At present, there is no separate regulatory framework for cell-based medicinal products (CBMP) for veterinary use at the European or German level. Current European and national regulations exclusively apply to the corresponding medicinal products for human use. An increasing number of requests for the regulatory classification of CBMP for veterinary use, such as allogeneic stem cell preparations and dendritic cell-based autologous tumour vaccines, and a rise in scientific advice for companies developing these products, illustrate the need for adequate legislation. Currently, advice is given and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis regarding the regulatory classification and authorisation requirements.Since some of the CBMP - in particular in the area of stem-cell products - are developed in parallel for human and veterinary use, there is an urgent need to create specific legal definitions, regulations, and guidelines for these complex innovative products in the veterinary sector as well. Otherwise, there is a risk that that the current legal grey area regarding veterinary medicinal products will impede therapeutic innovations in the long run. A harmonised EU-wide approach is desirable. Currently the European legislation on veterinary medicinal products is under revision. In this context, veterinary therapeutics based on allogeneic cells and tissues will be defined and regulated. Certainly, the legal framework does not have to be as comprehensive as for human CBMP; a leaner solution is conceivable, similar to the special provisions for advanced-therapy medicinal products laid down in the German Medicines Act.

Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Diskriminierung von Migrantinnen und Migranten auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in Deutschland und in den Niederlanden. Als theoretische Grundlage werden die Theorie des institutionellen Wandels von Streeck und Thelen sowie das Institutional Analysis and Development Framework von Ostrom verwendet. Es zteigt sich, dass Migrantinnen/Migranten in beiden ländem keine eigenständige Zielgruppe von Aktivierungsmaßnahmen darstellen und damit auf dem Arbeitsmarkt unintendiert diskriminiert werden. Die Integrationspolitik beider Länder ist als verengt einzustufen, und es lässt sich ein sogenannter drift ihrer jeweils Chancengleichheit als Leitbild propagierenden Arbeitsmarktpolitik feststellen. Dies kann u. a. auf die relative Unverbundenheit der Handlungssituationen Arbeitsmarkt- und Integrationspolitik zurückgeführt werden.

Since the early 2000s, theorising on incremental institutional change has made inroads in comparative historical analysis. In particular, the ideas, concepts, and theory introduced by Kathleen Thelen and her collaborators have been widely adopted by scholars. These scholars are not, however, univocally positive about the theory. Three main critiques have been plaguing the theory since its early days: the concepts it builds on lack clarity; the model of agency it uses is too static; and the theory lacks analytical power overall. Following the PRISMA method, this article presents a meta-analysis of the peer-reviewed empirical literature from 2005 to 2015 that applies this theory. It seeks to better understand the reach of the critiques expressed, as this may provide a starting point for improvement. It finds considerable quantitative support for the critiques, and uncovers an additional problematic issue: the tendency for concept stretching and concept proliferation by scholars seeking to overcome the shortcomings of the theory. Paradoxically, concept stretching and proliferation only further reduce the analytical power of the theory. The article concludes with suggestions for improvement of the development and application of the theory.

Although all European Welfare Systems are confronted by very similar challenges (among which especially the demographic change and the financial crisis are important), we argue that European Welfare Systems are hit by these challenges in different ways and that also their policy reactions to these challenges differ broadly. Especially when focusing on the financial crisis, some authors state that the crisis will lead or has already led to retrenchment while others argue that both retrenchment and expansion can be observed. Still other authors argue that the crisis can be a window of opportunity for fundamental change, while others conclude that the welfare state in times of crisis is rather characterized by incremental policy-making or that welfare states in times of crisis tend to adopt policies that ‘fit’ the respective country’s welfare institutions. Indeed, peculiarity and plurality can be regarded as distinctive features of European Welfare Systems. The introductory chapter develops this argument as the central idea and also presents the structure of the edited volume.

Schubert, Klaus, Paloma de Villota, and Johanna Kuhlmann, eds. 2016. Challenges to European Welfare States. Wiesbaden: Springer International Publishing. ISBN: 9783319076805.

The objective of the present study was to investigate in fed Wistar rats whether the cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor antagonist AVE1625 causes primary effects on metabolic blood and tissue parameters as well as metabolic rate, which are independent of reduced caloric intake. After single administration to rats postprandially, AVE1625 caused a slight dose-dependent increase in basal lipolysis. Six hours after single administration, liver glycogen content was dose-dependently reduced to ∼60% of that of untreated controls. These findings demonstrate a primary acute effect of AVE1625 on induction of 1) lipolysis from fat tissue (increased FFA) and 2) glycogenolysis from the liver (reduced hepatic glycogen). Measured by indirect calorimetry, AVE1625 caused an immediate increase in total energy expenditure, a long-lasting increase of fat oxidation, and a transient increase of glucose oxidation, which were consistent with the acute findings on metabolic blood and tissue parameters. We conclude that, in addition to the well-investigated effects of CB1 receptor antagonists to reduce caloric intake and subsequently body weight, this pharmacological approach is additionally linked to inherently increased lipid oxidation. This oxidation is driven by persistently increased lipolysis from fat tissues, independently of reduced caloric intake, and might significantly contribute to the weight-reducing effect.

At present, there is no separate regulatory framework for cell-based medicinal products (CBMP) for veterinary use at the European or German level. Current European and national regulations exclusively apply to the corresponding medicinal products for human use. An increasing number of requests for the regulatory classification of CBMP for veterinary use, such as allogeneic stem cell preparations and dendritic cell-based autologous tumour vaccines, and a rise in scientific advice for companies developing these products, illustrate the need for adequate legislation. Currently, advice is given and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis regarding the regulatory classification and authorisation requirements.Since some of the CBMP - in particular in the area of stem-cell products - are developed in parallel for human and veterinary use, there is an urgent need to create specific legal definitions, regulations, and guidelines for these complex innovative products in the veterinary sector as well. Otherwise, there is a risk that that the current legal grey area regarding veterinary medicinal products will impede therapeutic innovations in the long run. A harmonised EU-wide approach is desirable. Currently the European legislation on veterinary medicinal products is under revision. In this context, veterinary therapeutics based on allogeneic cells and tissues will be defined and regulated. Certainly, the legal framework does not have to be as comprehensive as for human CBMP; a leaner solution is conceivable, similar to the special provisions for advanced-therapy medicinal products laid down in the German Medicines Act.

Intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL) serves as a good biomarker of skeletal muscle insulin resistance (IR). However, intracellular fatty acid metabolites [malonyl-CoA, long-chain acyl-CoA (LCACoA)] rather than IMCL are considered to be responsible for IR. This study aimed to investigate dynamics of IMCL and fatty acid metabolites during fed-to-starved-to-refed transition in lean and obese (IR) Zucker diabetic fatty rats in the following different muscle types: soleus (oxidative), extensor digitorum longus (EDL, intermediary), and white tibialis anterior (wTA, glycolytic). In the fed state, IMCL was significantly elevated in obese compared with lean rats in all three muscle types (soleus: 304%, EDL: 333%, wTA: 394%) in the presence of elevated serum triglycerides but similar levels of free fatty acids (FFA), malonyl-CoA, and total LCACoAs. During starvation, IMCL in soleus remained relatively constant, whereas in both rat groups IMCL increased significantly in wTA and EDL after comparable dynamics of starvation-induced FFA availability. The decreases of malonyl-CoA in wTA and EDL during starvation were more pronounced in lean than in obese rats, although there were no changes in soleus muscles for both groups. The concomitant increase in IMCL with the fall of malonyl-CoA support the concept that, as a reaction to starvation-induced FFA availability, muscle will activate lipid oxidation more the lower its oxidative capacity and then store the rest as IMCL.

Increased intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content has been proposed as biomarker for insulin resistance (IR). An inverse correlation between IMCL and insulin sensitivity (IS) was found in nonathletic humans, whereas in animal models only a few validation studies have been performed. The aim of this study was to investigate the interrelation between IS indices determined by the glucose clamp technique (glucose disposal (GD), exogenous glucose infusion rates (GIR)) and IMCL content in the tibialis (TIB) and the soleus (SOL) muscle obtained by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in different rat models of IR. Diet-induced insulin-resistant Wistar rats as well as genetic disease models (ZDF rats) were used. In both muscles, elevated IMCL correlated with an impaired IS in all models of IR. The correlation of IMCL with both parameters for IS was comparable in TIB and SOL. The best fit between IMCL and IS was obtained using TIB and GIR data (r = -0.69, P < 0.001). Diabetic male ZDF rats exhibited comparatively low IMCL levels due to their catabolic state: exclusion of this group improved r. In summary, IMCL, especially in TIB, is a valid biomarker for IS in various rat models of IR with the advantage of a fast repeatable noninvasive measurement in individual animals.

Increased supply of fatty acids to muscle and liver is causally involved in the insulin resistance syndrome. Using a tissue microdialysis technique in Wistar and Zucker fatty (ZF) rats, we determined tissue glycerol levels as a marker of lipolysis in gastrocnemius muscle (gMT), subcutaneous adipose (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as well as the reduction of plasma free fatty acids, glycerol, and triglycerides caused by the antilipolysis-specific adenosine-A1 receptor agonist (ARA). In Wistar and ZF rats, ARA significantly lowered dialysate glycerol levels in SAT, VAT, and gMT. Whereas in SAT and VAT the decrease in dialysate glycerol indicated adipocytic antilipolysis, this decrease in gMT was not caused by a direct effect of ARA on intramyocellular lipolysis, as demonstrated by the lack of inhibition of the protein kinase A activity ratio in gMT. In addition, no differences of the fed-starved-refed dynamics of intramyocellular triglyceride levels compared with untreated controls were measured by in vivo 1H-spectroscopy, excluding any adenylate cyclase–independent antilipolysis in muscle. Treatment with ARA resulted in pronounced reductions of plasma free fatty acids, glycerol, and triglycerides. Furthermore, in ZF rats, ARA treatment caused an immediate improvement of peripheral insulin sensitivity measured by the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique.

Insulin resistance plays an important role in the pathogenesis of human type 2 diabetes. In humans, a negative correlation between insulin sensitivity and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content has been shown; thus, IMCL becomes a marker for insulin resistance. Recently, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been established as a dependable method for selective detection and quantification of IMCL in humans. To validate the interrelation between insulin sensitivity and IMCL in an animal model of type 2 diabetes, we established volume selective 1H-MRS at 7 Tesla to noninvasively assess IMCL in the rat. In male obese Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats and their lean littermates, IMCL levels were determined repeatedly over 4 months, and insulin sensitivity was measured by the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp method at 6–7 and at 22–24 weeks of age. A distinct relation between IMCL and insulin sensitivity was demonstrated as well as age dependence for both parameters. Rosiglitazone treatment caused a clear reduction of IMCL and hepatic fat despite increased body weight, and a marked improvement of insulin sensitivity. Thus, the insulin sensitizing properties of rosiglitazone were consistent with a redistribution of lipids from nonadipocytic (skeletal muscle, liver) back into fat tissue.

Die „offizielle” Phase der Agenda 2010 dauert etwas mehr als 2 Jahre, bevor die rot-grune Koalition nach der verlorenen Landtagswahl 2005 in NRW von Bundeskanzler Schroder fur beendet erklart wird. Der Regierungschef versucht in der Agenda-Rede, den sozialpolitischen Kurs in auf Sachzwange verweisenden Satzen zu legitimieren. Die Agenda wird als alternativlose Anpassung an externe und unveranderliche Markterfordernisse prasentiert, die im Ergebnis zu mehr Wohlstand fur alle Burger fuhren soll. Auserdem soll das Reformprogramm der Agenda 2010 sicher stellen, dass die „Substanz des Sozialstaats” uberhaupt erhalten bleibt. Zu diesem Zweck sind solche Anpassungen notig, die vor allem „schmerzhaft” fur bestimmte gesellschaftliche Gruppen sind. Gleichzeitig geht mit der Anpassungsleistung jedoch auch das Versprechen einher, neben der in Aussicht gestellten Wohlstandssteigerung fur mehr Eigenverantwortung zu sorgen, die – gezielt gefordert – auch mehr Freiheitsgrade fur den Einzelnen bedeuten soll.

Die erste Phase der „Agenda-Politik” reicht von der Regierungsubernahme der rot-grunen Bundesregierung 1998 bis zum Zeitpunkt unmittelbar vor der Regierungserklarung Schroders zur Agenda 2010 am 14. Marz 2003. Erst mit der Rede wird der Begriff der Agenda-2010 aufgebracht. Wir vertreten die These, dass diese Phase trotz der fehlenden entsprechenden Benennung bereits inhaltlich der „Agenda-Politik” zugeordnet werden muss.

Was bleibt nach rund zehn Jahren sozialdemokratischer „Agenda-Politik”? Die Antwort fallt zweigeteilt aus: Wir argumentieren, dass ihre Inhalte und Ideen erfolgreich waren und sowohl von der Grosen wie auch der schwarz-gelben Koalition weitergefuhrt wurden und werden (Policy-Dimension). In dieser Hinsicht „lebt” die Agenda 2010 als „richtige” und „erfolgreiche” Politik weiter, wahrend die SPD in der Opposition eine zumindest inkrementelle Abkehr vom Agenda-Kurs praktiziert. Was den zusatzlichen Gewinn von Macht und die Zustimmung der Wahler betrifft, so ist die Agenda 2010 – zumindest fur die Sozialdemokratie – in einer strategischen Sackgasse geendet (Politics-Dimension). Ein „Weiter so” kann es nicht geben, wenn man mittelfristig zu neuen Machtoptionen kommen will. Es erweist sich als ironische Wendung der Agenda 2010, dass die deutsche Sozialdemokratie mit einem Reformprogramm, das den in der Kohl-Ara wurzelnden „Reformstau" beseitigt hat und vom politischen Gegner ohne grose Kurskorrekturen weitergefuhrt wird, an einen Punkt gelangt ist, wo sie ihrem ehemaligen Juniorpartner in Umfragen auf Augenhohe wiederbegegnet und an dem die konservative Presse mitleidslos fragt: „Wozu SPD?” (FAZ vom 30.09.2009).

Die SPD befindet sich in der dritten Agenda-Phase in einer schwierigen strategischen Position. Als Juniorpartner muss sie sich innerhalb der Grosen Koalition profilieren: Das bedeutet notwendige Zusammenarbeit bei gleichzeitiger Betonung des eigenen parteipolitischen Profils. Die SPD steht vor der zentralen Aufgabe, sich nach dem Abgang Schroders gegenuber dem „Agenda-Erbe” zu positionieren. Dies ist nicht zuletzt innerparteilich von groser Relevanz. Schlieslich erwachst der SPD mit der Linkspartei eine Konkurrenz, die die Partei sowohl in der Policy- als auch in der Politics-Dimension tangiert.

Die Untersuchung hat insbesondere eines gezeigt: Es gibt nicht die Agenda 2010 im Sinne eines abgeschlossenen Politikprozesses. Sowohl in der inhaltlichen Policy-Dimension als auch in der auf Machtgewinn ausgelegten Politics- Dimension bleibt das Projekt Agenda 2010 widerspruchlich. Um dieser Hetero- genitat gerecht zu werden, werden daher im Folgenden fur beide Dimensionen zunachst eigenstandige Schlussbetrachtungen entwickelt.