Zusammenfassung
Zwischen 1972 und 2002 sind in der deutschen Sozialpolitik die Verflechtungen von Bundestagsabgeordneten und in Parteien tätigen Politikern mit dem Bereich der gesellschaftlichen Interessenträger zurückgegangen. Die Bindungen der Mitglieder des Bundestagsausschusses für Arbeit und Sozialordnung an sozialpolitische Organisationen wie Gewerkschaften, kirchliche sozialpolitische Verbände, Freie Wohlfahrtsverbände, Betriebsräte und Institutionen der Sozialversicherungen haben sich abgeschwächt. Die Karrieren der Abgeordneten deuten einen Trend der funktionalen Differenzierung an. Seit den 1990er Jahren üben die im Bundestag vertretenen Sozialpolitiker mehr Politik und weniger Sozialpolitik als Beruf aus. Sie sind stärker parteipolitisch interessiert und haben sich von den Verbänden und sozialpolitischen Organisationen distanziert. (Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen / FUB).
In German social policy, the interdependencies between Members of the German Bundestag (and other professional politicians working in that field) and interest organizations were traditionally quite strong. Between 1972 and 2002, however, the ties between members of the Bundestag's Standing Committee for Labour and Social Affairs and social policy organizations such as trade unions, church based social policy organizations, independent charity organizations, works Councils, and social insurance institutions became weaker. The development of parliamentary careers indicates a trend towards functional differentiation which has led to a divide between Members of the Bundestag and social policy organizations. Since the 1990s social politicians in the Bundestag have become more focused on political careers in their respective parties and in parliament than on social policy. The new social politicians in parliament are, one can conclude, party politicians who have distanced themselves from the interest groups.
In German social policy, the interdependencies between social politicians and interest organizations decreased between 1972 and 2002. Analyzing the careers of members of the Bundestag Standing Committee for Labor and Social Affairs, the paper demonstrates that the ties between social politicians and social-policy organizations such as trade unions, religion-based social-policy organizations, independent charity organizations, works councils and social insurance institutions became blurred. The careers show a trend toward functional differentiation, which has led to a divide between politicians and social-policy organizations. Since the 1990s social politicians have become more focused on political careers in the party and in parliament than on social policy. The new social politicians are party politicians who have distanced themselves from the interest groups.
