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"This chapter analyses the Europeanization of German social policy, focusing on the sectors of old-age pensions and health care. It argues that indirect EU effects rather than direct pressures have mattered. These indirect effects have amplified global and domestic pressures on German social policy arrangements. Their impact has been differential, as they have been mediated by properties of the policy sector and by political institutions. European integration has contributed to the transformation in pension generosity and finances by making the status quo-generous public pensions-more difficult to sustain and by making the alternative-a partial transition to private funded pensions-more attractive. The EU was not causally important with regard to reforms weakening the male-breadwinner orientation of the pensions system, although the previous system did not fit well with EU gender equality policies. European integration has contributed to the incremental changes in health care only indirectly and marginally. Since 1975, the traditional German social model has lost coherence, but has not yet been replaced by a new model. EU pressures have been too weak to foster a fully fledged transformation of social policy and too diffuse to lead to convergence towards a European social model. There are good reasons to believe, however, that European integration will matter more in social policy in the next decade." (author's abstract)

The nature & implications of recent developments in Latin American welfare states are discussed, with a particular focus on Chile, Brazil, Argentina, & Costa Rica. Social policy in Latin America is currently divided between the neoliberal model, characterized by market-driven forces, privatization, individualism, & expansion of inequality, & the social democratic model, which emphasizes market control, public provision of services, & increased equality. Although all of Latin America experienced a similar economic crisis during the 1980s, different countries adopted vastly diverse social & economic policies in reaction. Chile pursued the most radical neoliberal strategies resulting in a short-term improvement in capital markets & long-term threats to the social & economic security of a rapidly expanding poor &/or unemployed population. Brazil implemented a selective mix of neoliberal & social democratic policies, while Costa Rica moved toward a universalistic welfare state. Despite the advantages & necessity of welfare-oriented development strategies, it is suggested that these policies cannot succeed without increased state revenues. The specific requirements of a Latin American welfare strategy are briefly reviewed. 8 Tables, 63 References. T. Sevier

"In this chapter, a world culture perspective is applied to alternative forms of governance within the EU. In contrast to the widely held view in governance research that the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) constitutes a more or less successful arrangement for policy learning, I propose the hypothesis that mechanisms of 'soft' govemance are both means and results of the diffusion (by transposition) of a global culture. (...) The contribution has three sections. The following section introduces the neoinstitutional idea of actorhood with an emphasis an the role of cultural others in the process of becoming a legitimate actor. The next section turns to the empirical object of investigation, the OMC in EU social and employment policies. lt elaborates the world cultural script of good European nationhood and shows how the OMC as a learning procedure serves as a structural bare for the diffusion of this script. The section also argues that the domestication of this script depends an the dynamic of power struggies in national fields. Finally, in the last section the core assertions of the world culture perspective are summarized with a view to explaining processes of domestication." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

The paper discusses aspects of Croatian social policy, particularly social inclusion and social dialogue, in the context of Croatia's status as a candidate country for accession to the EU. It describes the development of a European Social Model demonstrating that, notwithstanding
certain problems, significant achievements have been made within the EU. Social dialogue has evolved from consultation to social governance, and the open method of co-ordination is implemented not only regarding employment issues but also in the social inclusion process. Furthermore, European concerns have been extended to the fields of pensions and health care, which will be addressed in future joint EU Social Protection Reports. The paper notes the salience of social policy issues in previous waves of accession. Analysis of Croatian welfare reforms shows that, thus far, the EU impact has been very limited. The paper calls for strengthened efforts, by Croatia and the EU, to ensure that aspects of social policy and the European Social Model are more systematically discussed, addressed and implemented as Croatia proceeds towards EU membership.