Understanding the identity of a policy field: the European Commission and liberal modernization in the domain of labour and social policy

Abstract

In congruence with the theme of this special issue, this paper clarifies the contribution the identitarian turn in European Union (EU) studies can make to the field. The paper explores the policy domain identity of the European Union social and labour market policy. It argues that over time, this identity has shifted considerably. Starting in the 1990s, when the Delorsian re-regulatory policy orientation slowly dissipated in favour of a more market-oriented approach in line with the so-called pink turn of centrist Social Democratic parties, the identity has undergone a number of changes. In the 2000s, the predominant identity was clearly liberal in nature, shaped by the Lisbon Agenda and a faith in the welfare-creating powers of deregulated market capitalism. By the 2010s, there was clear pushback against this image, and throughout this decade, the policy domain identity has lingered and struggled to assume a more concrete orientation. This slightly muddled and unfocused identity is in part to blame for the period of stagnation in further strides, whilst criticism of Commission overreach and intra-EU immigration have created a momentum against additional activity in this field.