Abstract
In the chapter on Germany the following networks of local state-society relations are considered: the administrative committees of the local employment agencies, the advisory boards of local job centers, the local youth welfare committees, the local foreign residents’ advisory committees, and local economic development agencies. The administrative committees of the local employment agencies are networks to which public tasks are delegated. The advisory boards of local job centers as well as the local youth welfare committees can be both characterized as collaborative networks. The local foreign residents’ advisory committees and the local development agencies represent totally different cases as the former are ceremonial and the latter consociational networks.
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Notes
- 1.
While we address the local state-society relations, it must be stated that German administrative federalism operates on the basis of an institutional distinction between state agencies that are de-centralized and localized (for instance, the local agencies for employment) and local self-government (for instance, the local youth authorities). In addition, and due to the subsidiarity principle, most of the local welfare services (to be guaranteed by the public sector) are in fact provided by welfare associations (Wohlfahrtsverbände). Hence, purchaser-provider relations are very important in local state-society relations. We address the role of welfare associations in the example of local youth welfare committees. In our chapter we only deal with decision-making public-private networks, not with implementation on the basis of purchaser-provider contracts. We thank one of the reviewers for the very useful comments on these clarifications.
- 2.
At the federal level, there is a board (Verwaltungsrat) consisting of seven representatives of the trade unions, seven representatives of employer organizations, and seven members of government. Three of the latter are representatives of the federal government, 3 of the governments of the 16 German states (Länder), and 1 of the 2 tiers of local government (Landkreise and municipalities).
- 3.
Currently 3 percent of the income of an employee must be paid as a social security contribution to the Federal Agency for Employment. Half of it has to be contributed by the employee and the other half by the employer.
- 4.
Scharpf (1997) made a distinction between collective and corporate actors on the one hand and individual actors on the other. Collective and corporate actors are ‘complex’ or ‘composite actors’ when compared with individual actors (Scharpf 1997: 54). Corporate actors are characterized by ‘a high degree of autonomy’ in the definition and pursuit of their objectives in relation to their members or ‘the ultimate beneficiaries of their activities’. By way of contrast, collective actors are composite actors ‘that are dependent on and guided by the preferences of their members’ (Scharpf 1997: 54).
- 5.
- 6.
With his ‘holder’ concept, Schmitter tried to provide answers to the question ‘who could potentially be invited or allowed to participate [because] they possess some quality or resource that entitles them to participate’ (Schmitter 2002: 62).
For critical remarks on this concept and attempts to develop it further, see Heinelt (2010: 28–32).
- 7.
In Germany, the unemployed can claim unemployment benefit for a maximum of one year—provided they have paid social security contributions for at least two years. Unemployed persons older than 50 years can claim for a maximum of two years—provided they have paid social security contributions for at least five years.
- 8.
- 9.
The committees may be known as Ausländerbeirat (foreign residents’ advisory committee), Integrationsrat (council for integration), Integrationsbeirat (advisory committee for integration), or even Ausländerrat (council of foreigners).
- 10.
Germans who have acquired German citizenship through naturalization are also eligible for election, but are not eligible to vote.
- 11.
Chambers of Commerce are subject to the ‘Gesetz zur vorläufigen Regelung des Rechts der Industrie- und Handelskammern’ (IHKG/Chambers of Commerce Law), Chambers of Craft to the ‘Handwerksordnung’ (HwO/Crafts Code), and Municipal Savings Banks to the ‘Sparkassengesetze’ (Saving Banks Acts) of the federal states (Länder) except from Hamburg.
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Egner, B., Heinelt, H., Sack, D. (2021). Local State-Society Relations in Germany. In: Teles, F., Gendźwiłł, A., Stănuș, C., Heinelt, H. (eds) Close Ties in European Local Governance. Palgrave Studies in Sub-National Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44794-6_11
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