Volume 63, Issue 3

At present the ethical norm of autonomy is widely discussed in political theory. This is much less the case in the domain of social policy research, despite the need for a new and more adequate normative orientation of modern social policies. The article aims at contributing to the normative debate: It elaborates the major aspects of a concept of personal autonomy that is suitable to guide both, the analysis and the conceptual design of autonomy-friendly social policies that take account of the citizens’ aspiration for self-determination.

Welfare benefit recipients receive support to cover their housing costs. Restricted by a defined amount of money, they are free to act on the rental housing market. The idea is that they should be able to pursue their own housing preferences. Even though this policy contains a variety of autonomy-friendly elements, the housing market nonetheless entails several barriers to autonomy. We find that a broader scope of housing policy is required due to the lack of steering possibilities trough welfare benefits.

The article examines the job centres’ role in promoting autonomy of benefit recipients with a mental disease under the Social Code II. Restricting factors are little knowledge of mental illnesses, lack of support for labour market integration and a hierarchic communication with placement officers. However, a trustful relationship with case workers and allowing clients to take an active role in the counselling process supports the notion of autonomy.

The article discusses new findings on a vulnerable group particularly interesting for questions of individual autonomy in the welfare state: those registered unemployed who are excluded from any unemployment benefits or social assistance entitlements (currently 208,000 in Germany) or who would not take up benefits to avoid stigmatisation. Using data from interviews and panel data analyses, and referring to a relational, socio-philosophical concept of autonomy, the impact of this status on individual autonomy is examined. The findings reveal that the status as unemployed non-beneficiary is widely perceived as violating individual autonomy and feelings of social justice for various reasons.