No crisis but a paradigm shift? German youth policy between continuity and change

Abstract

In Germany, the impact of the economic and financial crisis in general and on youth policy in particular is not as severe as in other European countries. Nevertheless, child and youth welfare currently is subject to restructuring. We argue that the crisis is used to legitimise an already ongoing policy change towards an activation model of welfare, although it is not clear yet to what extent current changes imply a path change. A particular aspect of recent reforms in Germany is the introduction of all-day schooling which has considerable consequences for child and youth welfare. The paper describes the structure of youth policy and particularly of child and youth welfare in Germany. Furthermore, recent changes are highlighted with regard to both statistical development and dominant discourses with regard to education, prevention and economisation in child and youth welfare. A special focus is laid on the field of youth work. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.