(Reader2) Eastern Europe Social politics

Introduction

When the communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe collapsed, the ensuing social policies exhibited a hybrid nature, varying both across different countries and within individual countries. Various forms of social policy emerged as a result of historical legacies, market liberal influences, and public demand for more substantial welfare policies.

Path Dependency in Social Policy Development

Historical Influences

The evolution of post-communist social policies is largely framed by path dependency stemming from two primary stages:

1. Pre-Communist Era Legacies

   • Many countries, particularly those from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, adopted Bismarckian models which emphasize professional social insurance schemes. These established social policies relied heavily on the male-breadwinner model, effectively sidelining women's roles in caregiving.

   • Countries with limited state capacity offered less generous social welfare compared to their neighbors, creating varied impacts based on historical state development.

2. Post-Communist Adaptations

   • After the fall of communism, new governments prioritized immediate social safety nets and labor market functionality, juxtaposed against the backdrop of market-liberal ideologies. While early post-communist policies were more generous relative to residualist counterparts elsewhere, they often lacked mechanisms like benefit indexing to manage inflation.

   • The post-communist welfare regime has been identified as a hybrid model combining Bismarckian, neoliberal, and social democratic features, further complicated by conservative principles affecting family policies.

Bismarckian Characteristics in Pre-Communist Policies

The region’s historical policies are predominantly influenced by the Bismarckian model:

• Social Insurance Schemes: These schemes varied in generosity based on profession, with significant disparities favoring specific labor sectors such as miners and civil servants.

• Examples from Different Countries:

  • In Czechoslovakia, despite attempts to consolidate pension schemes during the First Republic, distinct provisions persisted for miners and steelworkers.

  • Poland, a relative outlier due to its limited resources, saw weaker welfare institutions manifest in much lower benefit levels even during the communist period.

The Influence of Communist Rule

Though professing a revolutionary break from past regimes, communist parties often retained aspects of the Bismarckian system:

• Universal Access vs. Hierarchical Benefits: The regimes expanded daycare and universalized benefits to some extent, but still favored established hierarchies based on profession, perpetuating certain inequalities in access and benefit levels.

• Flat-rate Benefits: Many of the social policies enacted were conservative, maintaining gendered disparities, with provisions for working mothers skewed to encourage longer absences from the labor market.

Post-Communist Developments and Challenges

The Critical Juncture of 1989

The year 1989 marked a pivotal turn perceived as an opportunity for comprehensive policy reform. However, the aftermath saw most countries maintaining a welfare state characterized by constant flux, adjusting only incrementally due to the legacy issues from the past.

Navigating Economic Constraints

• Economic transformation pressures significantly influenced post-communist welfare states. Instead of adopting generous investments in welfare, these nations have experienced ongoing austerity, particularly after the 2008 financial crisis, leading to reduced benefits.

• The emphasis on quick safety net creation often restricted systemic reforms in critical areas such as pensions and healthcare, constraining them due to previous legacies and bureaucratic inertia.

Public Attitudes and Political Responses

Despite a general shift towards right-wing political parties post-communism, public support for state welfare remains robust across these countries. Governments devised strategies that included:

• Divide and Pacify Policy: This approach aimed to mitigate unrest among social groups by providing selective benefits, such as early pensions, while managing broader societal discontent.

Gender Roles in Welfare Policies

Family and child care policies largely reflect historical norms, with many post-communist nations retaining gendered structures in parental leave:

• Policies such as extended maternity leave reinforce traditional gender norms by disproportionately placing caregiving responsibilities onto women. Nevertheless, recent reforms in some countries strive to encourage paternal involvement, albeit within existing frameworks that may limit men's participation.

Conclusion

Central and Eastern European welfare states exemplify a mix of historical legacies and contemporary neoliberal influences. While hybrid models combining Bismarckian principles, communist-era policies, and neoliberal trends are prevalent, differences continue among nations, revealing a complex landscape of social policy and welfare reform that reflects both regional challenges and individual national attitudes.