Wissenspolitik und politischer Wandel

The „Hartz-Reforms“ in Germany and the „New Deal“ programs in Great Britain illustrate a wide-ranging policy change. But only the German case can be classified as a paradigmatic change. Recent literature on policy change refers to explanations focusing on the role of experts, learning processes and competing knowledge claims. Nevertheless, a systematic comparative analysis of this knowledge dimension and its influence on political change has not been conducted yet. In this study the long-term enforcement of new knowledge regarding labour market policy will be traced back to the role of knowledge politics. Knowledge politics change structures and procedures of enforcement and justification of knowledge relevant for political action.