Protestantism and the the debates on the german welfare state

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The proposed project examines the influence of Protestantism to the design of the German social order reflected in main debates on the West German welfare state. The institutions of the welfare state can be understood as a manifestation of ideas of social orders, debates on its reform can be read as negotiating about changing ideological principles, social conditions and cultural practices. The two projects focus therefore on important debates of the 1970s and 1980s, which are to be put into a longer-term context.One project examines the role and influence of the social Protestantism on discussions about the aging society. The imploding birth rates since the mid-1960s meant a challenge for the welfare state, because its functioning was dependent in many respects in a stable demographic situation. However, the debate on the West German population trend goes far beyond. In the context of demographic debates also changing conceptions of gender relations, national identity and social solidarity were discussed.A second project takes up another debate on social change regarding the changing nature of work and society, mainly the experience of mass unemployment since the 1970s. Again, the welfare state debates have a functional core because employment formed a central category of social security systems in West Germany. But work was also one of the main social factors structuring the German society. So the debates also refer to the importance of work for individual life and social relationships, for recognition and dignity. And also here, changes in gender relations, the national identity and social justice were discussed.The social Protestantism has made significant contributions to these debates. The projects ask for the character of these contributions in the context of protestant ethics of the time. They also investigate the effects of exchange with other contributions to the debate and ask how the debates turn back had influence on the positions of social Protestantism. Both projects shall connect the development of imaginary orders with the question of their importance in social and political processes in order to build an analytical bridge between the theoretical order drafts, social debates and policy-making processes.