Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Social policy
(1,463 words)

1. Definition

The term social policy (French politique sociale, German Sozialpolitik) and the concept itself emerged in the late 19th century with the development of the social or welfare state (French état-providence, German Wohlfahrtsstaat). In its present form, which it did not take until after WWII, its primary aim is social insurance of the individual against the risks of illness, aging, and unemployment, but it also includes social servi…

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Sokoll, Thomas, “Social policy”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 01 October 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_027710>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180208



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