Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität, Osnabrück. / Includes bibliographical references (217-227).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1920. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references ([13] leaves at end).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 129-133.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [403]-423).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Giessen, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 221-243).

Diss. Univ. Siegen, 2007.

Teilw. zugl.: Dortmund, Univ., Diss., 2009

Placing politics in time can greatly enrich our understanding of complex social dynamics. The question this thesis tries to answer is which mechanism led to the change in attitudes of the German Social Democratic Party and the British Labour Party towards the welfare state during the period from 1990 to 2010 and which effects in consequence these changes had on the existing welfare states. This thesis builds on the welfare state categorization work done by the Danish sociologist Gosta Esping-Andersen ("Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism"). However, the thesis focuses its in- depth analysis on Germany and the United Kingdom as prototypical conservative and liberal states. The heuristic text analysis, as well as the discourse analysis of party leader speeches, party manifestos and programmes, as well as the conducted expert interviews reveal that social, political, technological and economic changes during the given time period radically challenged and changed the norms and values of the welfare providers and with it the given welfare state, as well as the meaning, function and value of work. While many may argue that it was mainly the neo-liberal political and economic style that changed the attitude towards the welfare state, it was in fact just the trigger for a radical change in the interpretation of the basic social democratic values of freedom, justice and solidarity. This change made significant welfare state reforms inevitable and only with further changes can a balance and satisfaction within the welfare state system and within all welfare providing sectors (the state, the market, households and the third sector) be achieved. A new balanced social democratic approach for the 21st century is a ‘symmetrical welfare state’ that stands for mirror-image equality.

The subject of this thesis is The Conservative Party and its use of political marketing. The text analyzes how the Party responded to three subsequent election defeats in 1997, 2001 and 2005 and to what extent are the Conservatives utilizing political marketing methods and techniques in reaction to the pressure from their more market oriented competitor, the Labour Party. Since the rebranding of the Labour Party under Tony Blair, the Conservatives were struggling to adapt to the new reality. Instead of utilizing political marketing and being more responsive to the wishes of the electorate they diverged their polities more to the right. However, their incumbent leader, David Cameron, is transforming the Party and making it more market oriented. These efforts are critically analyzed.

The main purpose of the work is to analyze the most important aspects of post war development in Great Britain. My attention will be focused primarily on measures taken by the Labour government, which for the first time in history came to power. In second part I will describe the building of the welfare state from the World War II until the end of 80's of the 20th century, when Margaret Thatcher was elected to be the prime minister. In the third part of the work I will analyze her impact on the economic conversion of Great Britain from Keynesianism to Monetarist doctrine of free market forces and responsibility of each individual for his / her fate. The government of Margaret Thatcher has set a new direction, which becomes the inspiration for many other politicians around the world. In the end of the work, I will describe the circumstances which led to the resignation of the first female prime minister in the history of Great Britain.