Discursive Governance Networks in Danish Activation Policy

Abstract

From the 1980s onwards, the Danish welfare state was subject to some radical changes. Labour-market policy and large parts of social policy, but not education policy and industrial policy, were gradually fused into what is currently known as ‘employment policy’, and the new employment policy was supposed to be ‘active’ rather than ‘passive’. First to be activated were the young unemployed on social assistance followed by the insured unemployed and the ‘work-ready’ adult social assistance claimants. Finally, all unemployed people were obliged to receive an activation offer of either education or job training. In addition, efforts were made to return people on sick leave to the labour-market as fast as possible. The disabled people’s ability to work was assessed in order to facilitate labour market participation and those on early retirement pensions were encouraged to work a few hours or offered sheltered employment instead of social pensions. By the end of the 1990s, the notion of ‘activation’ had clearly hegemonized the new Danish employment policies.