Changes in Welfare Policies and Social Innovation in the European Union

The welfare state implies moving certain areas of the social conflict to the ambit of public action. In the European context, the three welfare state models include a Nordic or socialist model like Sweden; a continental or Christian- democrat model like Germany, and an Anglo-Saxon or liberal model like the United Kingdom. Therefore, different global ruling referents, three different ways to structure social protection, three schemes of employment relations, and different kinds of social impact are seen.

Over the last two decades, classical welfare models have moved towards a set of new, redefined variations of social policy. The structural change basically occurred around the following five dimensions: the logic of social stratification; the socio-economic framework; family and gender relationships; the symbolic-cultural field, and the territorial dimension.

Based on the analysis of strategic change in social policies, major aspects include new scenery and the emergence of the European Union in the context of supra-national social policy; restructuring of social protection and employment systems, and new sources of the welfare state, such as policies against social exclusion and in favour of male and female equality.

The 1990's have led to profound changes to the agenda and content of the welfare states, such changes show that in the globalisation era, reality is complex and has nuances. In practice, central aspects in the European model of the welfare state have not been swept by any ideological winds, as was the case in Latin America. However, new social factors demand from the next decades, a new, qualitative move forward regarding regulation and public intervention capabilities.

Thus, some future challenges should be identified. Firstly, the challenge of an active, cohesive society able to create and keep employment, in high socially and environmentally valuable sources, with high quality, universal public utilities. Secondly, the challenge of an all-inclusive society able to value any diversity. Thirdly, the challenge of a society offering equal terms both for men and women. Fourthly, the challenge of a participatory society, and finally, the challenge of uniting globality and proximity, leading to governance and democratic policies that foster human development and reinforce communities able to carry out informed self management.