This article investigates the historical, theoretical, and methodological foundations of the welfare state in key countries of the Romano-Germanic (civil law) legal tradition, with a focus on Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The main purpose is to identify common and distinctive features of welfare state formation in these countries and to understand the role of legal symbolism and doctrinal principles in shaping the social state in these jurisdictions. The analysis employs a comparative legal-historical methodology, addressing symbolic representations of law in the construction of the welfare state and highlighting methodological challenges in legal theory. The study is situated within the field of theory and history of state and law, and it draws on the history of legal doctrines to clarify the legal and theoretical approaches that underpin welfare state development in civil law traditions. The article contributes to a deeper understanding of how civil law doctrines and symbolic legal principles have guided the evolution of modern welfare states.

Welfare state, romano-germanic legal system, civil law tradition

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