General description

Typologies of European welfare state regimes; ideology, development, history and future of the welfare states and social services; welfare states and globalisation.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to give students the opportunity to gain insight into the theoretical, ideological and historical framework of welfare in Europe. This course is giving students a view on historical development from the first poor law to the complex welfare states regimes, as well as the political ideas which influence the characteristics of different worlds of welfare States.

Students will be equipped with the skills necessary for advanced research and understanding relation between ideology, theory and welfare states regimes, including the skills to:
1. to give an historical account of the development of welfare in Europe
2. to understand the institutions and processes of welfare.
3. to offer a critique of the European Welfare States Regimes.
4. to critically appreciate a range of key topics in contemporary and future welfare states developments.
5. to critically analyze the concepts of liberty, equality and social justice.
6. to evaluate the design of social services in the welfares states.
7. to critically analyze European values.

Contents

This course introduces students to the concepts, ideologies and political ideas, history, and development of welfare states regimes, welfare institutions and organisation of social services within the European Union. First of all, this course focuses on history, development and general consequences of welfare states regimes on society.

Secondly, the content includes the scope of welfare states development, as well as introduces students to systems of social service, social security and labour system, funding and patterns of social service delivery, and how political and social ideologies influence the development.

Thirdly, an analytic framework is utilized to identify stages of developments and trends as well as assess gaps in welfares states. Possibilities for reform could be discussed in terms of the welfare states alternatives and the need for social services.

Finally, this review includes investigation of national, European and international levels and the understanding that policy is a function of social, political, and economic context.

Teaching methods

Introduction course at the beginning of the semester, then the use of methods of distance learning: Audio and video Lectures, discussion boards and individual tutoring, supported by Moodle.
Attendance obligatory.

Teaching language

English

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Numeric 1-5.
Active participation: participation of the students in the discussions and debate during seminar and the distance learning, on the preparation of a research seminar paper (5 pages) in one of the areas covered in the course, written examination in the end of the course which should tests analytical skills and book examination.

Study materials

Reading list:

- Esping-Andersen, Gøsta: The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1990.

- Esping-Andersen, Gøsta et al.: Why we need a New Welfare State. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.

- Luhmann, Niklas: Political theory in the welfare state. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1990.

- Midgley, James: Social welfare in global context. Thousand Oaks, Californien: Sage, 1997.

- Buti, Marco (ed): The welfare state in Europe: challenges and reforms. Cheltenham, Glos.: Elgar, 1999.

- Gilbert, Neil: Transformation of the welfare state: the silent surrender of public responsibility. Oxford: University Press, 2004.

- Jones, Cathrine (ed): New perspectives on the welfare state in Europe. London: Routledge, 1993.

- Schram, Sanford: After Welfare, the culture of postindustrial social policy. New York: New York University Press, 2000.

- Lewis, Jane/Surender, Rebecca (ed): Welfare State Chance: Towards a Third Way. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.

- Jessop, Bob: The future of the Capitalist State. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2002.

- Giddens, Anthony et al (ed.):Global Europe, Social Europe. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2006.

- Lewis, Gail et al (ed.): Rethinking Social Policy. London: SAGE, 2000.

- Pierson, Paul (ed): The New Politics of the Welfare State. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.

- Pierson, Christopher/Castles, Francis (ed): The welfare state Reader. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2006.

Belongs to following study modules