Steering Group
Berkel, van H H A (Rik)
Research Areas
- Research of welfare state and social policy transformations, particularly the domains of social policy and activation
- Research of new models of the provision of social services, such as decentralization, quasi-markets for providing social services, as well as the integration of services in the areas of income protection and labour-market reintegration
- Research of the impact of welfare state and governance reforms on the agencies responsible for policy implementation, for example with respect to policy priorities, the design of work processes and organization of work, the roles and tasks of frontline workers and managers, the role of clients, inter-agency cooperation
Current Projects
- Reintegration of long-term social security recipients. The aim of this project is to provide insight into the lifeworlds and social context of long-term social security recipients as a basis for improving reintegration interventions aimed at these people. Financer: SIG
- The dynamics of policy production and organisational transformation in municipal social service organisations. The study investigates the change within Dutch municipal social services organizations in relation to the social policy and public governance reforms introduced with th enew Social Assistence Act. Financer Utrecht University.
- The new gorvernance of activation in the EU. The aim of this project is to gain insight into new modes of governing activation in the EU countries. Financer: Utrecht University.
- Reconciling wotk and welfare, RECWOWE (FP6 network of excellence). The objective is to create a European research network capable of overcoming the fragmentation of existing research on questions of work and welfare in Europe. Financer: EU.
- Reassessing the Nordic Welfare Model (REASSESS), strand Activation and new Governance Structures. The aim of this Network of excellence is to investigate and critically discuss whether the Nordic Welfare Model has the ability to renew itself under changing external conditions. Financer: Nordfors
Notable Publications
- Van Berkel, H H A and Borghi, V. (2008). Introduction: The Governance of Activation. Social policy and society, 7(3), 331-340.
- Van Berkel, H H A and Borghi, V. (2008). Review Article: The Governance of Activation. Social policy and society, 7(3), 393-402 .
- Van Berkel, H H A and Borghi, V. (2007). New modes of governance in Italy and the Netherlands. The case of activation policies. Public Administration, 80(1), 83-101.
- Van Berkel, H H A. (2007). ’Activation in the Netherlands: the gradual introduction of a paradigm shift. In A. Serrano Pascual and L. Magnusson (Eds.), Reshaping welfare states and activation regimes in Europe (pp. 71-99).
- Van Berkel, H H A. (2007). Social Assistance dynamics in the Netherlands: exploring the sustainability of independence from social assistance via labour-market inclusion. Social policy and society, 6(2), 1-13.
- Van Berkel, H H A and Valkenburg, B. (red). (2007). Making it personal. Individualising activation services in the EU.
- Van Berkel, H H A and Borghi, V. (2007). New modes of governance in activation policies. International journal of sociology and social policy, 27(7/8)
- Van Berkel, H H A. (2006). The decentralization of Social Assistance in the Netherlands. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 26(1/2), 20-32.
- Van Berkel, H H A, Aa, P. van der and Berkers, P. (2005). Wie weet wat werkt? Beschrijving en analyse van de uitvoering van basisreïntegratietrajecten voor bijstandsgerechtigden in Rotterdam.
- Van Berkel, H H A. (2005). Van bijstand naar werk, maar dan? Onderzoek naar het vervolg op uitstroom uit de bijstand naar werk. Dienst SoZaWe Rotterdam.
- Van Berkel, H H A and Aa, P. van der. (2005). The marketisation of activation services: a modern panacea? Some lessons from the Dutch experience. Journal of European Social Policy, 15(4), 329-345.
- Van Berkel, H H A and Hornemann M?, I . (2004). The experience of activation policies. In Gallie, D (Eds.), Resisting marginalisation - unemployment experience and social policy in the European Union.
© 2008 University of Amsterdam.