Between ideas, institutions and interests : analyzing third way welfare reform programmes in Germany and the United Kingdom
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Social Policy
Publication Date
4-1-2008
Volume
37
Issue
2
First Page
207
Last Page
230
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
This article examines the policy detail of welfare state reform agendas in two countries in which self-proclaimed ‘Third Way’ governments have been in power – Germany and the United Kingdom – in order to explore the competing influences on social policy of an ostensibly common set of ideas and contrasting institutionalised policy legacies. In so doing, it assesses the analytic utility of Bevir and Rhodes’ ideationally rooted interpretive approach against institutionally rooted claims of path dependency. It concludes that while the interpretive approach rightly stresses the need for a stronger focus on ideas as an explanation for policy change, the detail of actual Third Way policy reforms can only be understood from within the two nations’ institutionalised policy legacies. In addition, it argues that policy networks have had a considerable influence on reform trajectories too. The article advocates a closer synthesis of perspectives centred around ideas, interests and institutions in order to further our understanding of processes of policy change.
DOI
10.1017/S0047279407001717
Print ISSN
00472794
E-ISSN
14697823
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Hudson, J., Hwang, G.-J. and Kühner, S. (2008). Between ideas, institutions and interests: Analyzing third way welfare reform programmes in Germany and the United Kingdom. Journal of Social Policy, 37(2), 207-230. doi: 10.1017/S0047279407001717