Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book synthesises the two main strands of literature that inform this research: (a) Europeanisation and (b) New Institutionalism. It discusses how and why Europeanisation literature remains insufficient to fully explore the Europeanisation processes of German and Turkish work and family life reconciliation policies and how this research approaches Europeanisation using an additional framework of New Institutionalism. The book describes the literature on work and family life reconciliation policy both at the European Union (EU) and national levels. It explores the factors that urge work and family life reconciliation policy-making in the EU and how and why this particular policy sphere, which had formerly been left to national level initiatives, has gradually become an area of greater cohesion. The book presents the findings relating to policy Europeanisation.