Rethinking Political Economy and Welfare State Politics

The dynamics of welfare state politics in Europe are increasingly at the center of political economy analysis. The social, economic, and political transformations currently reshaping European countries raise fundamental questions regarding social rights and citizenship, inequalities among European citizens, and issues related to territorial competitiveness and the sustainability of economic growth. This section invites contributions that examine various aspects of political economy and welfare state politics within a shared analytical framework: the tensions and balance between environmental sustainability, economic growth, and the pursuit of social inclusion. We will also look at the interaction of producer groups and electoral parties in shaping trajectories of contemporary socio-economic and welfare state models. The section welcomes submissions broadly related to political economy and welfare state research, including welfare attitudes, employment and social investment, politics of organized interests, and the impact of digital/technological transitions on labor markets. Our proposed panels cover the following themes: Social inclusion and social rights in Europe through anti-poverty policies The recent Recommendation of the European Commission aimed at strengthening anti-poverty systems - particularly minimum income schemes - has brought renewed attention to the challenge of adequately addressing poverty within welfare state politics. Despite being in place for several decades in all Member States, minimum income schemes often remain insufficient and insufficiently inclusive. What explains their persistent inadequacy? Are the main obstacles rooted in policy design, or rather in the ways these schemes are implemented on the ground, especially regarding multilevel governance, individualized support, and measures aimed at promoting active social and labour market inclusion? Deservingness and social policy Over recent decades, shaped by welfare retrenchment and the diffusion of neoliberal paradigms, European welfare states have increasingly shifted responsibility for social risks from public institutions to individuals. This shift has largely occurred through increased conditionality in welfare policies - labour market measures, healthcare, social insurance, and social assistance - reinforcing distinctions between “deserving” and “undeserving” beneficiaries. To what extent has this strengthened individual empowerment and reduced welfare dependency? Conversely, to what extent has it increased stigmatization, weakened social inclusion, and made social rights less enforceable? Territorial inequalities and the political economy of “left-behind” places Territories characterized by economic decline and weaker welfare provision have become central to contemporary welfare state politics. Building on Rodríguez-Pose’s notion of the geography of discontent, these areas often experience either outmigration toward dynamic urban centers or rising political resentment tied to claims for territorial recognition. This panel welcomes contributions on how uneven access to welfare services - healthcare, education, mobility, care - shapes social cohesion, political mobilization, and patterns of support for anti-establishment or populist movements. The goal is to assess whether territorially sensitive welfare strategies can help bridge the divide between the “places that matter” and those that feel forgotten. Decarbonization and welfare state restructuring The ecological transition requires profound reconfigurations of production systems, labour markets, and social protection frameworks. We invite contributions exploring how welfare states can support workers, firms, and communities in navigating the social implications of decarbonization and whether green transitions risk amplifying inequalities or can instead foster new forms of inclusive growth. Furthermore, the panel will investigate how producer groups, governments and other relevant actors can assemble (stable) coalitions in favour of growth model decarbonization. The party politics of welfare state reform and social investments The panel welcomes papers examining the political coalitions, institutions, and governance arrangements that shape welfare reforms in contemporary Europe. Special attention will be given to the evolving role of parties, social partners, civil society organizations, and emerging social movements. Likewise, we will discuss how different policy mixes of social protection and social investment are underpinned by diverse (balances of) interests in advanced capitalist economies, and the politics underlying these dynamics.