Arbeitsmarktpolitik als Inklusionsprojekt?

In the long-term evolution of labour market policies, one observes shifts of inclusion and exclusion in succession, simultaneously and sometimes in entanglement with each other. However, since around the turn of the millennium until very recently, changes towards exclusion dominated the systems of benefits as well as active support. Tendencies towards increasing polarisation of life situations in society are not counteracted by a labour market policy that is currently divided into two regimes. The objectives and fundamental logics of these two regimes are partially at odds with each other, which augments experiences and perceptions of social polarisation. Current tentative search movements for a way out are characterised by indecision and lack of orientation. Yet another wave of reforms at the instrumental level would require a fundamental readjustment of the “regime logics” of unemployment insurance on the one hand and minimum income support on the other. The article delineates some proposals for such an endeavour.