Countries that share a particular social protection system, of Bismarckian inspiration and based on social insurance seem to encounter similar and particularly awkward difficulties. They also seem to be following parallel trends in reforms, with respect to timing, content and process.

The principal aim of the seminar is to evaluate the impact of the similar social protection institutions that characterize the types of welfare states usually described as Bismarckian Ð characterized by eligibility based on work, earnings-related benefits, contribution financing and devolved parastate management - on the politics, timing and content of social reforms over the last 25 years. The seminar will compare patterns of reform in Bismarckian welfare states/programmes, aiming to explain commonalities and differences and to understand the implications of the innovations that have been introduced into Bismarckian systems of social policy in recent years.

This seminar will be based on the thorough discussion of papers written by a group of European researchers preoccupied by better understanding the politics of welfare reforms in Continental Europe. Papers will be distributed in advance and available on the CES website, so that authors do not have to present their paper and so that the seminar can be focused on discussion. The seminar will be aimed at precise discussion of the papers, but also at general discussion around several important topics concerning the welfare reforms in Continental Europe:

- Reforming social insurances in Continental Europe, old age and health insurances
- Adapting Bismarckian welfare systems to new social needs, employment policies and caring policies
- The reform trajectories of typical Bismarckain welfare systems
- The reform trajectories of not so typical Bismarckian welfare systems
- Changing the structures of Continental European welfare systems
- Exogenous and endogenous dynamics of change in Bismarckian welfare systems