Political Economy of the Welfare State
In the department the political economy of the welfare state is analysed, particularly from a political science perspective.Research
The department consists of five working groups. They share a strictly comparative alignment to research, an interest in the historical development of welfare states and make use of a wide portfolio of methods.
- Comparative Political Economy
The working group analyses the political economy of the welfare state, in OECD states in particular. Research includes the analysis of welfare state institutions under the condition of changing political systems and economic problems since the beginning of the industrialization.
Head: NN - Historical and Comparative Welfare State Research
The working group researches the political-institutional and socio-economic determinants in the development, the expansion, modification and structural form of the welfare state.
Head: Prof. Dr. Herbert Obinger - Global Social Policy
The working group analyses the determinants and outcomes of different configurations of social protection from a global perspective.
Head: Prof. Dr. Sarah Berens
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The “Activating Welfare State” – a Political and Social History of German Social Policy, 1979-2017
The interdisciplinary Junior Research Group will define the concept much broader as a socio-political reaction to a fundamental, long-term societal change and the transformation of international welfare paradigms since the late 1970s.
Head: Dr. Nikolas Dörr - Economics of Social Policy
The research group has two main research areas: 1. Design and impact analysis of social policy programs (mainly in the Global South) and 2. Game theoretical modeling and experimental investigation of strategic decisions (especially group decisions).
Head: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Fehrler
Teaching
Members of the department are involved in teaching in the following programs:
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BA Political Science, MA Political Science, MA Professional Public Decision-Making
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MA Social Policy (particularly the modules on Comparative Social Policy, European and International Social Policy, and Social Science Research Methods)
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PhD programs of the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS), e.g. the Doctoral Colloquium Welfare State.
