This article refutes speculative arguments that the co‐operation of state, business and unions that predominated under Social Democratic rule was replaced by the Christian Democratic/Liberal government's unequivocal strategy to confront and to exclude the unions. The present government's economic and social policy contains three elements: an increase in the flexibility of capital, the reconstruction of the welfare state, and an increase in the flexibility of labour. The analysis of this strategy shows that government and unions continue to try to achieve a ‘new’ form of partnership ‐ a partnership, however, which for the unions could result in dramatic changes in their present political and organisational strength.