The new episode in the DVPW series `Political Science talk´ deals with the topic “Flight and Integration: Challenges for Public Administration”. With a view to the current challenges and the experiences of 2015, four experts discuss various aspects of the distribution of tasks and the performance of tasks in the field of migration and integration in the federal state. The video and further information can be found here and here: “#PoWi im Gespräch”.

Germany has a comparatively good supply of hospital beds. But the pandemic has shown that this is no guarantee of an adequate crisis response. A contribution by Mirella Cacace and Tanja Klenk.

The corona pandemic, this is obvious, works as a magnifying glass on the performance of our healthcare system, also with regard to hospital care. Other countries are appreciative of the large number of hospital beds in Germany. How sustainable has this lead, which is secured with expensive insurance and tax money, proven in times of the COVID-19 pandemic? How resistant or “resilient” are these structures in the face of the crisis?

Against this background, this article considers the performance of our hospital landscape in the care of COVID-19 patients. In view of the global crisis, a comparison with other health systems is particularly conclusive. The aim of this reflection is to improve the resilience of the system in order to successfully master crises.

More information can be found here.

Reforms of the welfare state, their prerequisites and effects are a frequently discussed topic. Relatively little attention is paid to the question of which and whose interests are heard at all in the socio-political reform discourse and how they can assert themselves

This focus issue represents this underexposed aspect in focus. It discusses the organizational and conflict ability of so-called “weak interests” in the political field of social policy.

The consideration of weak interests in social policy is important for two reasons: On the one hand, to meet the welfare state requirement of the Grundgesetz (constitution) and the goals of social justice and social security.

On the other hand, for reasons of democracy: A permanent disregard for weak interests in relation to material participation and basic recognition can lead to justified frustration and a turning away from the political system or the democratic spectrum of parties.

The articles collected in this issue approach the topic from different perspectives.

Overarching are the questions of how weak interests can be strengthened, how much self-representation by those affected is desirable and promising, and when third-party representation by lawyers makes sense.

More information can be found here.