Today, hardly anyone denies that the welfare state is in a deep crisis. But is it really the crisis of the welfare state, or is it merely the main victim of a development whose causes lie elsewhere? This book clarifies the issues and controversies surrounding this discussion. The author establishes connections between the development of the global market, demographic change, and the strategies of political parties and societal interest groups. Content-wise, Butterwegge draws a wide arc from Bismarck's social reforms in the 19th century, through the development of the welfare state after World War II, and its restructuring or dismantling in the present, to a solidarity-based citizens' insurance, which he believes is preferable to an unconditional basic income.