Welfare State Classification: The Development of Central Eastern European Welfare
Esping-Adersen’s (in)stable welfare states
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| 7.4 Esping-Adersen’s (in)stable welfare states The second part of this study’s research question focuses on the question how the empirical results discussed above affect Esping-Andersen’s theories. The research question of this study is as follows: “To what extent do the welfare states of Poland and Slovakia fit into the classification scheme of Esping-Andersen and how does this affect Esping-Andersen’s theory of (in)stable welfare states?” Esping-Andersen (1990) clearly states that welfare states should fit into one of the three welfare types he distinguishes. He also argues that relatively new welfare state, CEE welfare states, will develop towards one of Esping-Andersen’s welfare types. More importantly, he emphasizes on the fact that welfare states can only be stable if they are liberal, conservative or social-democratic. Hybrid welfare states are thus instable and will eventually collapse. As said in the introduction and discussed in chapter 2, many scholars believe that this theory should be refuted. Empericalists as Fererra and Bonoli believe that, based on empirical evidence, a fourth welfare type should be added to the classification. This study, the analysis of the welfare states of both Poland and Slovakia, shows that these relatively new welfare states have developed towards hybrid welfare states which can be considered to be stable. Thus, Esping-Andersen’s theory about instable hybrid welfare states can, yet again, be falsified based on the results of this study. The fact that welfare states which do not fit into Esping-Andersen’s welfare classification would be instable is not true as well as the fact that new welfare states would eventually develop towards on the three welfare types. Again, both Poland and Slovakia are not developing towards a liberal, conservative or social-democratic welfare type. The theory of Esping-Andersen’s (in)stable welfare states can thus be falsified based on results of this research, but also by developments of other, often Western-European welfare states. Germany, a typical conservative welfare state, has adopted aspects of the liberal welfare type. England has, at the same, adopted rules and regulations which would fit in the conservative welfare type. The Netherlands has never really fit into Esping-Andersen’s welfare typology. However, these three 47 welfare states can be considered to be very stable and will most probably not collapse in the near future. Concluding, this study has shown that CEE welfare states have developed towards hybrid welfare states and that based on these results Esping-Andersen’s theory can be refuted. 48 |