Globalisation versus the European social model? Deconstructing the contradiction between globalisation and the welfare state

Abstract

Both the economic mainstream and the public debate address globalisation and welfare states as strictly contradicting one other, In contrast to this view the article points out that there exists a globalisation dilemma: globalisation both endangers and requires the welfare state. How can this dilemma be sGolved? This question leads to an assessment of the degree to which globalisation in fact undermines the welfare state and to the question of what strategies for social policy might alleviate the social costs of globalisation, hence absorbing the opposition to it.