Governments and unions in the reform of the welfare state. Rupture of social dialogue in the periphery of the Eurozone?
Keywords:
Governments, trade unions, social dialogue, socioeconomic governance, Welfare StateAbstract
The article tackles the transformations in the production of public policies in Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal within the context of the Great Recession. From 2008 onwards, the periphery of the Eurozone has been under strong financial strain, which has reduced the margin for discretion of national political actors. Public policy-making has had to be adapted to a new scenario of implicit or explicit conditionality, depending on the case. Welfare reform in the four member states has been performed under the supervision of European institutions and following the imperatives of fiscal consolidation. European conditionality has negatively impacted on social pacts as mechanisms for the determination of public policies. The financial and economic crisis in the periphery of the Euro has implied the de-activation of the corporatist dynamics of social dialogue and has introduced significant changes in the models of socio-economic governance of these countries.
Downloads
References
Avdagic, Sabina (2010): "When Are Concerted Reforms Feasible? Explaining the Emergence of Social Pacts in Western Europe", Comparative Political Studies, 43, pp. 628-657.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414009356178
Baccaro, Lucio y Regan, Aidan (2014): "Explaining Social Pacts: Weak Government or Strong Executive? Rethinking the Irish and Italian Case in the Aftermath of the Crisis" Council for European Studies Conference. Washington, March 14-16, 2014.
Baumgarten, Britta (2013): "Geração à Rasca and beyond: Mobilizations in Portugal after 12 March 2011", Current Sociology, 61(4), pp. 457-473.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0011392113479745
Begg, David (2008): "The Mission of Unions is Timeless" en Tim Hastings (ed), The State of the Unions: Challenges Facing Organised Labour in Ireland, Dublin: Liffey Press.
Campos Lima, Maria da Paz y Martín Artiles, Antonio (2011): "Crisis and Trade Union challenges in Portugal and Spain: between general strikes and social pacts." Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research 17 (3): 387-402.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1024258911410806
Costa, Hermes Augusto (2012): "From Europe as a model to Europe as austerity: the impact of the crisis on Portuguese trade unions", Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, 18(4), pp. 397-410.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1024258912458866
Culpepper, Pepper D. y Regan, Aidan (2014): "Why don't governments need trade unions anymore? The death of social pacts in Ireland and Italy", Socio-Economic Review Advance Access published February 2, 2014. doi:10.1093/ser/mwt028.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ser/mwt028
Dellepiane, Sebastian y Hardiman, Niamh (2013): "The politics of fiscal effort in Spain and Ireland: Market credibility versus political legitimacy" UCD Geary Institute Discussion Paper Series; Geary WP2013/21. Disponible en: http://hdl.handle.ner/10197/5117
Esping-Andersen, Gösta (1993): Los tres mundos del Estado del Bienestar, Valencia: Alfons El Magnanim.
Ferrera, Maurizio (1996): "The 'Southern Model' of welfare in Social Europe", Journal of European Social Policy, 6 (1), pp. 17-37.
https://doi.org/10.1177/095892879600600102
González Begega, Sergio y Luque Balbona, David (2015): "Crisis económica y deterioro de los pactos sociales en el sur de Europa: Los casos de España y Portugal", Revista Internacional de Sociología, 73 (2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3989/ris.2014.03.17
https://doi.org/10.3989/ris.2014.03.17
González Begega, Sergio y Luque Balbona, David (2014): "¿Adiós al corporatismo competitivo en España?: Pactos sociales y conflicto en la crisis económica", Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 148, pp. 79-102.
https://doi.org/10.5477/cis/reis.148.79
Hall, Peter A. y Soskice, David (2001): Varieties of Capitalism. The institutional foundations of comparative advantage, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/0199247757.001.0001
Hamann, Kerstin y Kelly, John (2011): Parties, elections, and policy reforms in Western Europe: voting for social pact. New York: Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203848654
Hamann, Kerstin y Kelly, John (2004): "Unions as Political Actor: a Recipe for Revitalization?" en Carola M. Frege y John Kelly (ed.) Varieties of Unionism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 93-116.
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199270149.003.0006
Hamann, Kerstin; Johnston, Alison; Katsanidou, Alexia; Kelly, John y Pollock. Philip H (2014): "Sharing the Rewards, Dividing the Costs? The Electoral Consequences of Social Pacts and Legislative Reform in Western Europe". West European Politics. Published online: 04 Jun 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2014.911481.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2014.911481
Hassel, Anke (2003): "The politics of social pacts", British Journal of Industrial Relations, 41 (4), pp. 707-726.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1467-8543.2003.00295.x
Hassel, Anke (2014): Adjustments in the Eurozone. Varieties of Capitalism in Southern Europe. LEQS Paper No. 76/2014.
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2436454
Huzzard, Tony; Gregory, Denis y Scott, Regan (2004): Strategic Unionism and Partnership: Boxing or Dancing? Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Köhler, Holm-Detlev; González Begega, Sergio y Luque Balbona, David (2013): "Sindicatos, crisis económica y repertorios de protesta en el Sur de Europa" en Salvador Aguilar (coord.), Anuario del Conflicto Social 2012, Barcelona: Universidad de Barcelona, pp. 1013-52.
Korpi, Walter (1983): The democratic class struggle. London: Routledge.
Lehmbruch, Gerhard (1977): "Liberal corporatism and Party Government", Comparative Political Studies, 10 (1), pp. 91-126.
https://doi.org/10.1177/001041407701000105
McDonough, Terrence y Dundon, Tony (2010): "Thatcherism Delayed? The Irish crisis and the paradox of social partnership", Industrial Relations Journal, 41 (6), pp. 544‐562.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2338.2010.00585.x
Molina, Oscar y Miguélez, Faustino. (2013): "From negotiation to imposition: social dialogue in austerity times". ILO Working Paper No. 51. Geneva: International Labour Office. Disponible en: http://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/publications/WCMS223700/lang--en/index.htm
Molina, Oscar y Rhodes, Martin (2002): "Corporatism: the Past, Present, and Future of a Concept", Annual Review of Political Science, 5, pp. 305-331.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.5.112701.184858
Monteiro Fernandes, Antonio (2013): "El impacto de la crisis en la situación laboral portuguesa" Revista General de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social, 33.
Natali, David y Rhodes, Martin (2004): "Trade-offs and veto players: reforming pensions in France and Italy", French Politics, 2, pp. 1-23.
https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.fp.8200048
Öberg, PerOla; Svensson, Torsten; Christiansen, Peter Munk; Nørgaard, Asbjorn Sonne; Rommetvedt, Hilmar y Thesen, Gunnar (2011): "Disrupted Exchange and Declining Corporatism: Government Authority and Interest Group Capability in Scandinavia", Government and Opposition, 46, 3, pp. 365‐391
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-7053.2011.01343.x
Palma Ramalho, Maria do Rosário (2013): "Portuguese labour law and industrial relations during the crisis". ILO Working Paper No. 54. Geneva: International Labour Office. Disponible en http://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/publications/WCMS_232798/lang--en/index.htm
Pedersini, Roberto y Regini, Marino (2013): "Coping with the crisis in Italy: Employment relations and social dialogue amidst the recession" ILO Working Paper No. 50. Geneva: International Labour Office. Disponible en http://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/publications/WCMS_223695/lang--en/index.htm
Petmesidou, Maria y Guillén, Ana M. (2014): 'Can the Welfare State as we know it survive? A view from the crisis-ridden South European Periphery', South European Society and Politics, 19 (3), pp. 295-307.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13608746.2014.950369
Pierson, Paul (2011): Welfare state reform over the (very) long-run, Centre for Social Policy Working Papers, Bremen, University of Bremen.
Pizzorno, Alessandro (1978): "Political Exchange and Collective Identity in Industrial Relations" en Colin Crouch y Alessandro Pizzorno (eds.) The Resurgence of Class Conflict in Western Europe Since 1968, Vol. 2, London: Macmillan.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-03025-5_11
Rehfeldt, Udo (2000): Globalización, Neocorporatismo y Pactos Sociales, Buenos Aires: Lumen.
Regan, Aidan (2012): The Rise and Fall of Irish Social Partnership. Tesis doctoral University College Dublin. On line. Disponible en: www.aidanregan.com/1/146/ resources/publication_1592_1.pdf
Regini, Marino (2003): "Tripartite concertation and varieties of capitalism", European Journal of Industrial Relations, 9(3), pp. 251-263.
https://doi.org/10.1177/09596801030093001
Rhodes, Martin (1998): "Globalization, Labor Markets and Welfare States: a Future of 'Competitive Corporatism?" en Martin Rhodes e Yves Meny (eds.) The Future of European Welfare: a New Social Contract, London: Palgrave MacMillan.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26543-5_9
Sacchi, Stefano (2015): "Conditionality by other means: EU involvement in Italy's structural reforms in the sovereign debt crisis" Comparative European Politics, 13, pp. 77-92.
https://doi.org/10.1057/cep.2014.42
Schmitter, Philippe C. (1974): "Still the Century of Corporatism", Review of Politics, 36(1), pp. 85-131.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034670500022178
Simoni, Marco (2010): "Labour and Welfare Reforms: The Short Life of Labour Unity" en Andrea Mammone y Giuseppe A. Veltri (eds) Italy Today. The Sick Man of Europe, London: Routledge.
Visser, Jelle (2013): Institutional Characteristics of Trade Unions, Wage Setting, State Intervention and Social Pacts, 1960-2011, versión 4.0. On line. Disponible en: http://uva-aias.net/38
