Logo University Talks ("Universitäts-Gespräche")The two professors and heads of departments at the Centre of Social Policy Research (ZeS) were asked to assume scientific responsibility for the 26th University Talks, taking place on November 28 and 29 and funded by the Wolfgang-Ritter-Foundation, the Society of Friends and Sponsors of Bremen University ("Unifreunde e.V."), and the University of Bremen. This year’s talks will address the future prospects of the welfare state in Germany and Europe.
Starting event is a public ceremony held at the historical Stadtwaage (municipal weigh house) in Bremen. This event will feature opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Helge Bernd von Ahsen (chairman of the Wolfgang-Ritter-Foundation) and Prof. Dr. Eva Quante-Brandt (Senator of Education and Science of Bremen), which will be followed by a keynote lecture by Prof. Dr. Klaus Armingeon (University of Bern) on "Social policy in times of permanent austerity". The University Talks will be continued on the next day with a closed meeting bringing together experts from science and politics. External guests from science are: Prof. Dr. Friedrich Breyer (University of Konstanz), Prof. Dr. Marius R. Busemeyer (University of Konstanz), Dr. Werner Eichhorst (Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn), Prof. Dr. Rita Nikolai (Humboldt-University of Berlin), Dr. Armin Schäfer (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne), and Prof. Dr. Waltraud Schelkle (LSE, London).
As political experts Peter Rudolph (member of the national board of CDA), Cornelius Neumann-Redlin (industry association of Bremen), Brigitte Pothmer (member of the Bundestag, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Dr. Carsten Sieling (member of the Bundestag, SPD) und Dr. Hans Jürgen Urban (Trade union IG Metall) will participle along with Kolja Rudzio (economics editor of the newspaper “ZEIT”) and Ottmar Willi Weber (Moderator, Radio Bremen/Nordwestradio).
The University Talks focus on an up-to-date topic: The welfare state with its extensive systems of social security against various ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ social risks as old age, unemployment, disability, child and elderly care, and poverty has become a structural characteristic of developed democracies. After World War II, the welfare state was central to the economic, political and social integration of society. Furthermore, the welfare state played a crucial role for the legitimization and stabilisation of democracy and facilitated social participation to a hitherto unknown extent. Today, social expenditure for the welfare state amounts to approximately 28 per cent of the GDP, 58 per cent of the total expenditure respectively, and thus, makes up the largest part of public spending in Germany. However, new challenges arise while at the same time economic globalisation, Europeanisation, and increasing state deficits as a consequence of the financial crisis impose limits on the power of nation states.
Against this background, the experts from science and policy will discuss the future prospects of the welfare state in Germany and Europe.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Frank Nullmeier
SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 7
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-58576
E-Mail: frank.nullmeier@uni-bremen.de
Prof. Dr. Herbert Obinger
SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy
Mary-Somerville-Straße 5
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-58567
E-Mail: herbert.obinger@uni-bremen.de
