Federalism and the Welfare State: New World and European Experiences

Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 6/2/2005
EAN 9780521847384, ISBN10: 0521847389

Hardcover, 380 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm
Language: English

In this unique and provocative contribution to the literatures of political science and social policy, ten leading experts question prevailing views that federalism always inhibits the growth of social solidarity. Their comparative study of the evolution of political institutions and welfare states in the six oldest federal states - Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the US - reveals that federalism can facilitate and impede social policy development. Development is contingent on several time-dependent factors, including degree of democratization, type of federalism, and the stage of welfare state development and early distribution of social policy responsibility. The reciprocal nature of the federalism-social policy relationship also becomes apparent: the authors identify a set of important bypass structures within federal systems that have resulted from welfare state growth. In an era of retrenchment and unravelling unitary states, this study suggests that federalism may actually protect the welfare state, and welfare states may enhance national integration.

Preface
1. Introduction
Federalism and the welfare state Herbert Obinger, Francis G. Castles and Stephan Leibfried
Part I. New World Experiences
2. Australia - federal constraints and institutional innovations Francis G. Castles and John Uhr
3. Canada - nation-building in a federal welfare Keith Banting
4. The United States – federalism and counterfactuals Kenneth Finegold
Part II. European Experiences
5. Austria - strong parties in a weak federal system Herbert Obinger
6. Germany - cooperative federalism and the overgrazing of the fiscal commons Philip Manow
7. Switzerland - the marriage of direct democracy and federalism Herbert Obinger, Klaus Armingeon, Giuliano Bonoli and Fabio Bertozzi
8. Conclusion
old and new politics in federal welfare states Stephan Leibfried, Francis G. Castles and Herbert Obinger.