Theorizing Social Policy Transformations in Central and Eastern Europe
The book explores the evolution of welfare pathways in Central and Eastern Europe post-communism, utilizing innovative theoretical frameworks. It emphasizes key explanatory factors including micro-causal mechanisms, power dynamics, path departure, and the strategies employed by elites, offering a comprehensive analysis of the region's socio-political landscape.
By explaining the path of extrication from state socialism, this book clarifies the patterns of the welfare state's transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, at the national and EU level. It identifies the emergence of a peculiar Eastern European welfare regime through the fusion of pre-communist (Bismarck social insurance), communist (universalism, corporatism and egalitarianism) and post-communist features (market-based schemes). The book concludes by reflecting on how Eastern welfare states will fit in the future EU welfare regime.
The Exclusive Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy
Focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, the book explores the interplay between development economics, social protection, and democratization. It challenges existing theories of transformation by examining the unique factors that contribute to the emergence of dictatorship and democracy in the region, offering fresh insights into these complex relationships.