INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS The Tasks of the State and Its Responsibility for the Future JULIAN NIDA-RÜMELIN, GUSTAV-ADOLF HORN, CHRISTINE FÄRBER, GESINE SCHWAN March 2012 „ „ Against the background of excessive criticisms of the state characteristic of economic policy in recent decades and the global financial crisis, the social democratic concep­tion of the state must be renewed. „ „ Social democratic policy should be based on a participatory conception of the state with all social groups benefiting from it in an equitable manner. The state must not become prey to individual, particularly powerful interest groups. This will also lead to more informed, more widely-accepted and sustainable decision-making and im­proved credibility for democracy. „ „ The conception of the state based on complete national autonomy and hierarchical top-down government that excludes society is obsolete. Instead, the social demo­cratic conception of the state must, beyond the nation-state, take into account EU integration and the need for global cooperation. „ „ In order to increase prosperity and to distribute opportunities for social participation more fairly, while at the same time boosting economic competitiveness, public goods must be strategically developed and expanded. „ „ Politics must have primacy over market economic processes. The role of the state as guarantor of economic and social stability must be reinforced by extending its rel­evant competences and endeavours and by providing for an adequate revenue base, even in times of crisis.