Die private Stiftung „Für das Alter“ und der entstehende Schweizer Sozialstaat, 1920er bis 1950er Jahre

Abstract

The “mixed economy of welfare” is one of the most popular concepts in the history of welfare. Even though a growing body of recent work has illustrated the relationship between di erent providers of welfare, philanthropic organisations have been widely ignored. This paper will shed some light on this blind spot by focussing on the relationship between state and philanthropic action concerning social welfare. Using the example of the Swiss charitable organisation Pro Senectute, I will argue that the emerging welfare state in the first half of the 20th century did not crowd out Pro Senectute. In fact both Pro Senectute and the state were closely intertwined and its charitable work was a key component in the emerging welfare state.