ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the pertinent English, American and German literature which led to the initiation of the Verein fur Sozialpolitik in 1873. It presents the concept of Sozialpolitik in terms of social action directed toward problems affecting society as a whole and the continued attainment of society's goals. Social policy comprises both purposive action and practical volition in a social context. Common to Mittelstandspolitik and social policy in the narrower sense is the mutual antagonism between the middle strata and big business. The nature of social policy requires a particular characterization which has to do with the ultimate goal of all politics, namely, the tendency to develop legislation that may shape society. Consequently, one can say that social policy poses a problem of civilized humanity. For civilized man is characterized by his capacity and intention consciously to confront the world and lend meaning to its manifestations.
