The Politics of Social Europe

Abstract

The politics of social Europe lies at the intersection of contested ideas, institutional structures, and policy practice. While the EU has increasingly engaged with social policy through instruments such as the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and EU-level funding programs, the trajectory of social integration remains uneven and politically contested. This panel examines the dynamics shaping the development, implementation, and contestation of social policy at the EU level. Contributions explore the role of EU institutions, member states, political parties, social partners, and civil society in shaping social outcomes, as well as the interplay between supranational ambitions and national politics. Attention is given to the ideational, institutional, and distributive dimensions of social Europe, including the politics of welfare reform, labour market regulation, social rights, and inequality. By bringing together comparative, theoretical, and empirical perspectives, the panel interrogates how political conflict, negotiation, and compromise influence the scope, design, and legitimacy of EU social policy, offering insights into the prospects for a more cohesive and transformative social Europe.

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