Caritas and Diakonie are among the central actors in the German welfare state. They provide a significant portion of social welfare services and have continuously expanded and differentiated these over time. Recently, they have had to reposition themselves within the structural changes of welfare corporatism. This volume explores the extent to which they have submitted to business management principles while maintaining their identity and connection to the church. At the same time, it analyzes how they have recognized the potential of preventive social policy to prepare for the modernization of the welfare state.

The analysis of the organization, programming, and operational activities of the confessional welfare associations in this transformation process is supplemented by interviews with long-time observers of the associations from academia and practice.