Suchergebnisse

Social democracy has been widely studied in political science. More often than not these studies are flawed or even biased. I contend that this results from the fact that the `object' of analysis has been conceptualized in terms of a `subjective' understanding of social democracy and its presupposed relationship with the development of the welfare state. Hence the theoretical standing of these studies must be questioned. In this article I shall investigate a number of contemporary approaches to assess their theoretical quality. To this end I divide these studies into `project' orientated (focusing on strategic questions concerning the transformation of capitalism) and `model' driven (investigating the relation between political action and societal change). Then I go on to discuss this division in terms of `revisionism' and `reformism'. It appears that much of the literature has little to offer in terms of new insights into social democracy as a political actor and has hardly contributed to the development of a `theory' of social democracy. By way of conclusion I offer some ideas on the development of such a theory.

Der politische und soziale Wandel zwischen 1965 und 1975 in den Niederlanden hat zu einer Säkularisierung, Dekonfessionalisierung und Entsäulung geführt, das konkordanzdemokratisch geprägte politische System jedoch nicht grundlegend umgestaltet. Die Kooperation gesellschaftlicher Interessen wurde auf der Basis der bestehengebliebenen Konsensfähigkeit der teilnehmenden Akteure wiederhergestellt. Die Politikproduktion ist, besonders seit 1973, eher immobil und rigide und wenig funktionsäquivalent, da alte Verteilungskoalitionen fortwirken. Effektivität und Problemlösungskompetenz des niederländischen Korporatismusmodells sind eher kritisch zu bewerten. (ICE2)

One may wonder why political scientists would bother about the analysis of questions relating to rates of unemployment. In effect, should not this be part of economic science? Economists are generally seen as better equipped with theories on the micro and macro level to deal with issues regarding labour market performance, the development of employment and the explanation of volatile rates of unemployment and inflation. This view is held by the majority of the economic science guild and by many policy-makers.

ABSTRACTIn this article the growing dissent and tension with regard to the relationship between political factors, public policy‐formation and the consequences (in terms of economic performance) will be investigated. Our point of departure is to find out to what extent political variables matter and which other factors may account for the above relationship. The main result is that, apart from the impact of 'politics', the existence of a corporatist mode of interest‐mediation and conflict‐regulation consistently strengthens the explanation of policy‐formation and policy‐performance. In addition, it appears that, especially after 1974, political factors gain influence, albeit more often than not in circumstances of political consensus and where right‐wing parties are relatively weak. If the interdependence between 'politics' and 'economics' is managed in a consensual fashion, it will lead to a better economic performance and may be an adequate response to the ongoing crisis.

IN THIS ARTICLE THE GROWING DISSENT AND TENSION WITH REGARD TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICAL FACTORS, PUBLIC POLICY-FORMATION AND THE CONSEQUENCES (IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE) WILL BE INVESTIGATED. OUR POINT OF DEPARTURE IS TO FIND OUT TO WHAT EXTENT POLITICAL VARIABLES MATTER AND WHICH OTHER FACTORS MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE ABOVE RELATIONSHIP. THE MAIN RESULT IS THAT, APART FROM THE IMPACT OF 'POLITICS', THE EXISTENCE OF A CORPORATIST MODE OF INTEREST-MEDIATION AND CONSISTENTLY STRENGTHENS THE EXPLANATION OF POLICY-FORMATION AND POLICY-PERFORMANCE. IN ADDITION, IT APPEARS THAT, ESPECIALLY AFTER 1974, POLITICAL FACTORS GAIN INFLUENCE, ALBEIT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IN CIRCUMSTANCES OF POLITICAL CONSENSUS AND WHERE RIGHT-WING PARTIES ARE RELATIVELY WEAK. IF THE INTERDEPENDENCE BETWEEN 'POLITICS' AND 'ECONOMICS' IS MANAGED IN A CONSENSUAL FASHION, IT WILL LEAD TO A BETTER ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND MAY BE AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING CRISIS.