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The conditional success of the social dialogue : A comparison between the Dutch and the Polish corporatist systems

Rakowska, J. (2011) The conditional success of the social dialogue : A comparison between the Dutch and the Polish corporatist systems.

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Abstract:The welfare state has recently been a subject to changes on the field of the social policy (George & Page, 2004). These changes have usually touched the nature of the sharing of the financial burden of the social welfare and its effective governance. One of the governance modes chosen by plenty of modern welfare states is the social dialogue, which usually involves intensive negotiations between the government and the social partners, being the labor unions and employers’ organizations (Mailand & Due, 2004). The dialogue has been interpreted as a successful way of problem solving in plenty of spheres, not only in the scope of the social policies. The aim of this thesis is the real value of the social dialogue by indicating conditions for its success social dialogue and factors which have a negative influence on the dialogue itself. According to Mailand and Due (2004), the engagement of the European Union in social policies could positively influence the role of the social partners at the national dimension. Therefore, the focus will be also laid on the involvement of the European Union (EU) in enhancing a healthy social dialogue in the Member States. The cases of Poland and the Netherlands representing different corporatist systems will be used to illustrate the conditions for successful social dialogue and the input of the EU regarding the social partnership. These changes will be investigated regarding the situations before and after the accession to the EU in the Polish case and the incorporation of the Social Protocol to the Treaty of Amsterdam for the Dutch case. The research consists of the analysis of the primary and secondary data sources which will be analyzed in the light of the investigated conditions for healthy social dialogue, being the willingness and ability to bargain, as well as the secured implementation (Mailand and Due, 2004). The extensive analysis of the data has shown that these indicators apply and are necessary for the social dialogue to succeed. For the Polish case, the insufficient compliance with the criteria has led to few impasses in the tripartite negotiations, while the Dutch model of social partnership suffices the conditions indicated. An important addendum revealed during the research showed that equality of arms during the negotiations as well as their consensual character contributes to the conditions mentioned in the literature. Regarding the enhanced social partnership from the EU, the EU, the research has shown no major influence on the actual position or changes in the domestic schemes for the social partnership, nevertheless the effort to create the ‘Social Europe’ is appreciated by the social partners from both countries.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:88 social and public administration
Programme:Public Administration BSc (56627)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/62681
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