5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

Over the past decades, East Asian welfare states have grown considerably in size, offering social protection to almost all their populations. Meanwhile, they have encountered numerous challenges in the post-COVID-19 era, including social inequality, emerging irregular employment, as well as the ageing populations and low fertility rates. However, countries will react in diverse ways when confronted with similar structural pressures. The rationale for divergence in welfare state transformations is due to the distinct institutional histories, varying interpretations of the issues among policy actors, and differences in policy ideas, interests, and power relations of the respective countries. In this regard, social policy responses across various countries will exhibit significant variations, even within the East Asian welfare states often viewed as a rather distinct welfare regime. Pertinent questions arise with regard to the institutional transformations of East Asian welfare states, namely, how they address these structural pressures and challenges, and whether discernible policy patterns emerge among them? More importantly, to what extent do East Asian welfare states continue the conventional developmental/productive welfare features, or can we identify the growing divergence in the respective welfare development? This session welcome potential contributions that reflect on the relevant themes.